By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd) says politicians, economics and those with human sympathy hold the key solution to Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast and not military. .

The Akinrinade who was addressing a seminar on Africa’s Big Five, titled, Power and Influence in Africa, said Nigerians are lost on the causes of the insurgency in the country.

The seminar was organised by Gusau Institute a research library with interest in governance and security.

According to him, he was not aware of any military doctrine that has been put down to effectively address guerrilla warfare, which is easier.

General Akinrinade called on management of Gusau institute to direct its expertise in security issues towards finding lasting solution to Boko Haram in the country.

“Let me say a word or two again about Boko Haram, I have heard a lot of discussions about Boko Haram from many people .

“I must say that I am lost about the causes of Boko Haram, and I am sure most of our country men are also lost.

“I want to charge this institute to take this matter very seriously. But I am not aware of any military doctrine that has been put down that has addressed effectively guerrilla warfare, which is easier .

“But this kind of insurrection we are now having in our hands have never been addressed by any military doctrine successfully.

“So I am aware that military solution is not going to be the end of Boko Haram.

“So the ball is in the court of politicians, economists and those that have human sympathy that could bring solution to this crisis.

“We have all agreed to treat constitutional issues and maintain Federal character, but it has been bastardised with corruption that has taken over the Constitution .

“We fought the civil war to keep this country and we must honour our founding fathers because they bestowed a befitting country to us.

“We did what we did because the situation at that time dictated it so,”

South African Based Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Jakkie Cilliers, deliver a paper on Power and Influence in Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa.

He said the five countries will determine the future of the African region.

According to him, Africa is rising but not for all. He said African countries particularly the big five need to do more to catch up with the global powers.

Immediate past Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd) established the institute with the vision to provide qualitative imputs to security management and good governance in Nigeria, Africa and international community.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Media Group has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign since he said there is a limit to what he can do at age 72.

The group was reacting to Buhari’ utterance when he said “How I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do,” Mr Buhari said while addressing Nigerians in South Africa on Tuesday.

In a statement by its head, Tunde Lawal, the group accuse All Progressive Congress (APC) and Buhari of being hypocrites.

“The PDP is again vindicated by this confession from President Muhammadu Buhari and many more that are yet to come.

“Nigerians will recall that during the presidential campaigns, the PDP and other well meaning Nigerians complained on the choice of sponsoring Pa Muhammadu Buhari as Presidential Candidate of APC and the effect it will have on the country when it comes to managing the affairs of a multi dimensional nation like Nigeria, but, the APC and its leaders said that age is just a number”.

“It’s barely three weeks into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his age is already telling on him, so, what will happen to Nigeria in the remaining 1,440 days of this government. It’s better to find a black goat in the day time rather than looking for it in the night and this is why we are asking President Buhari to resign now because Nigerians will not entertain further excuses of why the APC cannot deliver on their campaign promises,” reads the statement.

The statement also blamed age when Buhari referred to Leader of Germany as Leader of West Germany.

“Nigerians saw this all along during the campaigns but could not resist the broom stick voodoo that the APC used to hypnotize the people. Nigerians will also recall that this same Pa. Buhari could not remember the complete name of His Vice Presidential Candidate and even the full name of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) under which platform he was contesting and instead referred to it as the All Progressive Confidence during the campaigns. How long will a nation like Nigeria, the giant of Africa remain under this hypnosis of the APC,” the statement asked