Obasanjo in Aso Rock, says Boko Haram will be defeated... recommends Columbia's experience to Buhari‎

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his confidence that Nigeria can win the war against Boko Haram terrorists, even if every one of them is not killed.
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He made this point on Monday at the State House, Abuja after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on his delegation's mission to study Columbia's efforts and experience in its 50-year battle‎ against the FARC rebels.

Speaking to journalists, ‎Obasanjo said Buhari's ultimatum to the military to end Boko Haram insurgency in three months was realisable to the extent that not until every single insurgent is killed before the country can declare victory over terrorism.

He was enthusiastic that if the federal government won the Nigerian Civil War, then the current insurgency could be surmounted, although he pointed out that the president's three-month target was not cast in stone.

"If we won the civil war, we can win this one. But like the Columbians said, we are not waiting until we kill off every insurgent to say we have won. I believe that once the military has the upper hand, other measures that have to be taken will be put in place.

"There will be measures of socio-economic development, education, employment. All that has to go into the process of eventually winning the war and saying, 'here is Uhuru.'

"The president must give a target (3 months); when you give somebody a target, you give him something to aspire to, giving him an objective.

"Target is not cast in stone. I believe that if you are talking of getting the upper hand, gradually, we are getting the upper hand.

"We are not there yet but we are getting close. And once we are getting upper hand, we move on and do other things.‎"

The former president who came with a delegation from a foreign-based Foundation said they got interested in the Columbia's experience because of the length ‎of time the government has been fighting the FARC rebels and wanted to learn what has kept the insurgents completely undefeated.

He said the Foundation produced a book from its findings and he though he could make a contribution by bring the Foundation leaders to discuss their experience and reports with Buhari as lessons therein could assist in the fight against Boko Haram. ‎

Obasanjo, who was also accompanied by Columbia's Chief of Defence Staff, said Buhari was interested and excited about the experience from Columbia, even as he described the president as "anxious to learn and has listening ears".

His words: "The specific thing is that they have been fighting insurgency for 50 years. They celebrated their 50 years in existence in May last year, in fact, we went there in June.

"So, we want to see what has kept them going, what has kept insurgency going? What has made the government of Columbia to make three attempts to seek peace, to end the war and insurgency and they failed. What is the new effort that they are making? How likely are those new efforts going to succeed?
"He (Buhari)  was interested. You know that one thing you can say about the President is that he is anxious to learn and he has listening ears. Of course, nobody knows it all. A good leader must seek every opportunity to learn and to put what he learns into practice."

Obasanjo also briefed the President on his mission to Guinea Bissau where Buhari had sent him to broker a deal with soldiers who had overthrown the elected the government there.

He reported that the soldiers, who complained of gross neglect by the overthrown government have since cooperated on the election of a new Prime Minister and now a new government will be formed within the next two days.

Responding to a question on how was enjoying his retirement, Obasanjo replied: "I am enjoying it wonderfully well. Otherwise, I will not be here with you."

The Authority Media News