POLITICS: War Against Insurgency: Nigeria’s Jonathan or Chad’s Idriss Deby?

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By Efio-Ita Nyok| 10 March 2015| 6:02 am
It’s been over three weeks since Nigeria’s armed forces decided to seriously engage the insurgency in the Northeast of the country. Reportedly, the military has made some strides against Boko Haram so much so that Abubakar Shekau was compelled to seek the assistance of his ISIS colleagues based in the middle east by way of paying allegiance through his twitter account. Though this recent move by Nigeria’s terrorism czar has evoked fear among Nigerians, one is compelled to take a swipe at President Jonathan’s tactics in the entire military operation against BH.
It’s no more news that the fight against BH has seen the coalition of three African countries, namely, Chad, Cameroon and Niger,  in terms of military involvement. Leading in this coalition is Chad.
One would have thought that this coalition was masterminded by Nigeria’s president but the reports in the news, if they are anything to go by, suggest otherwise. Chad’s president is seen to be saying that he masterminded it. Between these three, who should have been in the lead? Let’s take a look at three instances where President Idriss Deby is vindicated.
Besides, at the early stage of this current six weeks operation by the Nigeria’s military it was alleged that part of the brief of the army was to apprehend BH’s Shekau alive, I remember positing that this was another farce by Jonathan, and true to type, I was vindicated.
If you recall, the Chadian president had announced to the world that he knew where Shekau was hiding, and had even dared him to surrender or risk being killed. Later, this same president accused Nigeria’s military of allowing Abubakar Shekau to escape unhurt away from his hiding place. The Chadian military must have provided intelligence to Nigeria but, instead of acting on the intelligence, they acted against it. What insinuations does this incite?
Again, about two days ago, it was reported in the news how a Chadian general was complaining  that Nigeria’s military refused them entry into their territory to continue their victory over Boko Haram. Why was this? I cannot really figure out. Was it out of pride or was it an attempt to collude with Boko Haram kingpins to give them safe landing? Finally, President Jonathan had six years to address the insurgency but blatantly refused to act, now he wants to do that in six weeks to the schedule of a presidential elections after the previous date was cancelled by force!!
In view of all these negative moments in the fight against BH, how realistic is the promise by President Jonathan that Abubakar Shekau is going to be caught alive?
No doubt there are gains against BH by the military; but the question is, which military – Nigeria’s or Chad’s? Or, which Commander-in-Chief -Nigeria’s Jonathan or Chad’s Deby(leading the other two)? The answer is left to you to produce, for I am compelled to think that ours is a tale of one country but two commanders-in-chief!