Boko HArAm’ •

and discipline amongst the officers and soldiers, the entrance of the once reluctant neighbours and members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) of Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic was important.

Of course, he said, I convinced them that it was very much achievable, more so that our neighbors, who have been lukewarm, have all of a sudden decided to join the battle.

He added: “They realized in their own right that if Nigeria eventually defeats this terrorism it will empty into their own territories if they do not join the war. Of course Chad had its economic blockade and had to join the war for economic reasons to reopen the routes- the Maiduguri-Malam Fatori-Pulka, from Camerounian side to Chad was blocked by these elements. The Nigerian side was blocked by them and much of their goods and services were coming from Cameroun and Nigeria, they had no choice but to join the war.

“Niger also saw the genuine reason to join the war because they knew their country was like traffic for the Boko Haram, arms and ammunition, and sometimes for recruitment of individuals who they used as war machines and so forth and indoctrinate them. They too decided they were going to join the war, because to me they saw it lately that we are going to turn this thing around and if we turn it, these elements would run into their countries. Prior to this time, these countries had always been sanctuaries to Boko Haram terrorists, they move in freely and come out freely”.

“Cameroun did not show much enthusiasm not until they (terrorists) moved in en masse into their country and started causing destruction, killing, kidnapping and so forth. They now realized they also had to fight the Boko Haram terrorists. I tried to explain it to that August body that with our contiguous neighbours showing greater enthusiasm to participate in the war that the end was near. This is because all we need now is to push them up, they cannot run into any of those countries, once they all block their borders, we are good to go. And of course, it was reluctantly agreed, and today we are witnesses to what has become of it. So it’s a feat that was never thought of but we have achieved it”.

Similarly, Air Marshal Amosu, during a press conference to mark the 51st Anniversary of the NAF, attributed the rapid victory against the Boko Haram in the past three months to certain factors including the agreement with neighbouring countries, acquiring the right weapons and discipline through the Court-Martial by the Nigerian Army. “I totally agree with the line of action with Chief of Army Staff (Minimah), we cannot function properly as a military organization,” he said.

Accordingly, Gbanite described the COAS as a brilliant man, great achiever and without whose inputs, the rebuilding of the military morale would have been difficult to achieve. He said: “When he came in the morale was low. Overall if I am to judge Minimah, he is one of the best COAS. It will be sad to lose him and because of ethnic balancing to allow such a fine General to retire.

“Anyway there is nothing we can do owing to regional and ethnoreligious consideration but if I am to advice Buhari it would have been better to leave him for at least one year to consolidate on what he has started”. Definitely however, Gbanite noted, there is room for improved intelligence, collaboration with other security agencies, and to also expand the Special Forces and airborne division.

“He faced the challenge of indiscipline but once he tackled it, the victory against Boko Haram became guaranteed”, he added.

Also speaking, another security analyst and former Director at the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Mike Ejiofor, described Minimah as a visionary leader who has set the Nigerian Army on the right path despite the initial failings.

“The fact remains that since he assumed the leadership of the Army he has brought some quality input to the system based on discipline, transparency and accountability. “You know when he came one of the first things he did in the Army was to ensure discipline through Court-Martial because the military were seen then as being afraid of Boko Haram. And with the morale boosting, equipping of the fighting force with modern weaponry helped in the fight. So leadership matters a great deal and in terms of successes”, Ejiofor noted.

“Of course you know he wouldn’t have done it alone because his relationship with other services, especially the intelligence services, is very cordial, which also led to yielding valuable intelligence. This is important because the fulcrum of this operation is hinged on valuable intelligence. “Even though he suffered losses at the beginning but what he has gained and the achievements recorded so far outweighs the initial setbacks,” he concluded.

There Still Exists Some Clogs in The Wheel of Progress

Minimah, as rightly stated by some defence and security analysts, will have his legacy cemented as one of the best COAS in the history of the Nigerian Armed Forces, having triumphed over myriad of challenges with limited resources in a war time situation.

However, there still remain some blips in these blistering achievements, which may conspire to dent his sterling stewardship and legacies in the past one year as the head of the Nigerian Army. These clogs in the wheel of military progress are as at today, the two thorny issues and mystery that are yet to be resolved; including the liberation of over 200 Chibok girls said to be under Boko Haram captivity, and the capture or killing of their eccentric leader, Abubakar Shekau, who has gone quiet since the latest offensive.

Therefore, in order to maintain a stainless legacy and ink his name in the appreciative minds of Nigerians, Minimah should as a matter of urgency and if time permits with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the nation’s security, resolve the mysteries surrounding Shekau and the Chibok girls.

Nevertheless, if he fails in this bid, it will still take nothing away from steering the Nigerian Army on the right path to greatness as well as a solid foundation for succeeding Army Chiefs to consolidate and build on as a formidable and contemporary force able to tackle the emerging security challenges.