Why FG should declare total war against Boko Haram —Wogu

Erstwhile minister of Labour and Productivity and governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Chief Emeka Wogu, has called for a declaration of total war against the Boko Haram militant group similar to the type taken by federal forces against the defunct Biafra.

Wogu, in a chat with Vanguard, also dismissed insinuations that the conflict in the North-East would affect President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances in the presidential election, contending that the huge crowd that welcomed Jonathan during his campaign visit to Maiduguri showed the popularity of the president in the region.

Wogu, who said the continued bloodletting in the North-East was a direct challenge to the territorial integrity of the country which must be checked with every resource available to the country.

While lauding President Jonathan’s efforts so far in seeking to avoid collateral damage to the people of the North-East, Wogu said the fact that the Boko Haram group had succeeded in carving territory for itself within the nation’s landmass demanded that the nation use its full military force on the group.

According to him: “What is happening in the North-East now demands full military action against the Boko Haram group. A group that has gone the length of carving out some portion of Nigerian land for itself, and has declared war on our sovereignty. Full action must be taken against the group. Yes, many of those who criticise the President may not have considered the fact that the President, as the father of all, including the people of Borno has been considerate of the effect of collateral damage on the people and this may have accounted for the hesitance of the use of full military action.