Assessing Buhari’s morale boosting visit to Maiduguri

Sunday, October1, President Muhammadu Buhari went to Maiduguri and celebrated the 57th Independence anniversary with Nigerian troops fi ghting Boko Haram terrorists in the north east axis of the country, to boost their morale as well as give hope to the displaced persons in the region.
 SADIQ ABUBAKAR reports that mixed grills have trailed the visit

Expectedly, reactions have been trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to celebrate the 57th Independence anniversary of Nigeria, with the Nigerian troops that are on a mission to end Boko Haram terrorism in the north east zone of the country, on Sunday, October 1.
President Buhari’s visit was his fi rst in the political history of Borno and since he assumed offi ce as President of Nigeria in May 2015.
Reactions Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, a trader at the Monday Market Clothes material lane said the entire Borno state were very happy that Mr. President visited the star for the fi rst time during his tenure as civilian president.
He added that it was more glaring for the President to visit and relate with the Nigerian troops who have sacrifi ced their lives for the safety and stability of the state, region and country at large.
Mohammed noted that, even as the President quietly entered and left the state, he has indeed done a remarkable thing and shown the people of Borno that he loves them.
He added that Mr.  President was also straight and frank in his remarks of eight minutes which touched on the lesson for those who can learn and listen.
Th e President gave a brief analysis about his civil war experience and sounded a strong warning to anybody willing to be used or intending to cause any havoc in any part of the country.
He said this has shown clearly that Mr.  President wishes this country to survive, unite, stabilize and develop.
For Hajiya Sakantu Sani Mohammed, a food seller along Baga Road, Maiduguri: “we did not actually see Mr. President physically, but the excitement attached to his presence in Maiduguri Borno state was impressive.
We wish he had stayed here with us for more days.
And we pray that he was here for the good of our soldiers who have sacrifi ced their lives for us, protecting our lives and property from the ravage of Boko Haram”.
Honesty and succour She noted that people are happy and proud of President Buhari for his honesty and sincerity in bringing succour to the people as peace is gradually returning to Borno and other parts of the north east region.
A security personnel who doesnot want his name in print said: “we are glad and proud to have Mr.
President here on Independence Day to celebrate with us.
It is an encouragement from our President.
For our number one citizen to come over here in Maiduguri to celebrate the national independence anniversary with the troops showed there is nothing more rewarding and gladdening than that.
We are proud and we assure Mr. President that we will never disappoint him as he pledged also never to disappoint us in terms of our salaries and allowances as well as equipment that we needed or required to end the insurgency.
Boost morale “Some of us shook hands with him, some saw him face to face and had him very close talking to us as President and Commanderin -Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
It is really nice indeed and great to have him here with us and celebrate independence to together”.
Also speaking, Amos Mathew of the Federal Ministry of Trade said President Buhari visit to Maiduguri will really rattle Boko Haram insurgents and boost the morale and confi dence of the soldiers.
He added that Buhari’s visit could go a long way to boost the morale, performance and productivity of the soldiers apart from giving the people of Borno and north east confi dent and hope that President Buhari means business to end Boko Haram urgently and that he is not willing to compromise the integrity and unity of the country.
It also shows that Buhari is willing to protect lives and property of the people and ensure security is available everywhere in the country as the President had said himself when he visited and addressed the troops.
Concern for the soldiers Bukar Aisami of the Borno state Ministry of Commerce, said “there is nothing Borno people and government can say more than thanking the president for his visit and show of concern for the soldiers and people of Borno.
“Th is man is really a Nigerian and patriotic fellow Nigerian worthy of emulation by the young generation.
In the past, we could not have such a leader for almost two decades President Buhari made Borno and Maiduguri in particular proud and gave Maiduguri respect by visiting the state despite the fact that the insurgency is still not over.
Former President “In the past, former President Jonathan Good luck did not visit Maiduguri or any part of the north east to sympathise or celebrate with the people.
Th is makes Buhari a unique person”.
Workers’ rights are protected Comrade Kolo Modu, a secondary school teacher said, “we are happy and very glad that when the president visited he did mention that he cannot come to the state to pay workers their salaries and pensions except the governors can do that, but he will ensure that the workers’ rights and privileges are protected.
“Th is alone made us proud and gave us more confi dence on the president and his government.
Th e president proved to us that he is for the people and his government is also for the people and of the people and by the people which is democracy.
Expected Second Visit “We pray that the president should send a team of investigators to Borno to investigate the public funds mismanagement and the manner the federal food items launched by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo have been misappropriated and under distributed to the target audience while IDPs are in camps dying of hunger and sickness helplessly.
“We also want the president to visit Borno again this time around to go to places and see for himself what is happening or hear what had happened to the IDPs and the relief materials NEMA and VSF as well as Dangote, among others have contributed and donated for the IDPs and people of Borno .
A Maiduguri-based journalist, Amadu Miiringa, said “the visit of Buhari was very signifi cant and an encouraging tool for the soldiers, while for the people and government of Borno, it was a hope and confi dence building going by the renewed military strategies to end the insurgency”.
Zainab Musa, a student of GGSS Maiduguri, said “we as students feel proud and happy to hear that our President visited Maiduguri our home town even though we did not see him physically except on television and we hear on radio.
We are happy and proud of our president for the good works he has been doing since he took the mantle the seat of leadership of the country”.
To Labaran Tanko, a commercial bus driver, the visit was indeed a great history to Borno people even though he did not pass through the roads in town for the people to see him.
He said “We are happy with the security and other developments we are witnessing in some sectors of the country especially security and peace, of which without these, there cannot be any meaningful development”.

 

 

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