Buhari repeats pledge to restore peace and stability before he leaves the Villa
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Muhammadu Buhari, now in the waning hours of his tenure, is trying to ramp up support for his “legacy”, pledging for the umpteenth time in months to fight terrorists, a promise he has neglected to deliver on for nearly seven years on the job.
The North East, the bedrock of Boko Haram, will see a change from insurgency to peace and development, he promised again in the Villa on Wednesday.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East, which preceded the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
He said he will rejig his tactics against insurgency in the North East, which has lasted 13 years, and will not relent in efforts to retore peace and normalcy.
”At the advent of this administration in 2015,” he recounted, “I pledged to Nigerians that I will restore peace in the North East and return it to the path of development and growth. I remain committed to this promise.
”To the people of the North East, particularly the children and future of the North East, we will never forget you and your courage, sacrifice and endurance has been exemplary.
”I pledge to you that in the coming months you will begin to witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peace building, stabilisation, and ultimately development in your respective communities as we embark on a revised approach to addressing this conflict – A Return to Normalcy,” Buhari said.
He told the committee to shift from managing the situation to activating a permanent solution for effective and practicable restoration.
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Mandate of the committee
Buhari asked the committee to, among others,
- Develop a concise three-year action plan by the end of March 2022 that incorporates national and state level plans, providing a clear pathway for the restoration of peace and development in the North East.
- Develop and implement a phased plan for the repatriation, returns, resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and restoration of livelihoods, incorporating global best practices that give dignity to the affected populations.
- Develop and implement a coordinated peace building and reconciliation programme culturally appropriate and community driven.
- Strengthen collaboration with key donors, development partners, and private sector organisations critical to the mobilisation of resources and implementation of programmes.
- Ddopt the guiding principles of accountability, delineation of duty and community-driven methods to address issues.
Failure not an option
”Members will dedicate more time to the conduct of field visits to regularly engage with state government, communities and key stakeholders.
”Due to prevailing fiscal constraints, Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDAs] will utilise existing budgetary resources and repurpose funds to programmes approved under this initiative,” Buhari added.
He directed the committee to submit monthly progress reports, adding that the first progress review meeting will be held in the first week of March 2022.
”History beckons and Nigeria calls on you to be the team that finally charts this new path to the restoration of sustainable progress in the North East and I strongly believe this could lead to the birthing of a template for addressing insurgency and instability in other parts of our country and across the world.
”Failure to deliver on this task you have been assigned is not an option.”
Buhari commended Borno Governor Babagana Zulum – who was present at the inauguration with Gombe Governor Inuwa Yahaya – for his commitment to his people and exemplary leadership.
He expressed appreciation to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) for coordinating humanitarian actors and UNDP regional stabilisation facility which provides support for security and the rule of law.
Committee members
The committee comprises
- Finance, Budget & National Planning Minister
- Federal Attorney General and Justice Minister
- Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development Minister;
- Interior Minister
- Foreign Affairs Minister
- Defence Minister
- National Security Adviser
- Inspector General of Police
- Chief of Defence Staff
- State Security Service Director General
- National Intelligence Agency Director General
- North East Development Commission Director General
- National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons Federal Commissioner
- National Emergency Management Agency Director General
- Chief of Defence Intelligence