The leaders of Borno State, yesterday, charged the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to start his administration by confronting and defeating Boko Haram insurgents, saying his victory at the polls was for entrenchment of democracy in the country.

The leaders, under the aegis of Borno State Elders Forum, said in the last few years, Nigerians had been terribly afflicted by insurgency and high level terrorism.

The leaders, in statement yesterday, signed by their Chairman, Ambassador Usman Galtimari, stated that, “For us in Borno State and, indeed, the North-East, it is not an exaggeration to say that we have been taken back several years in terms of all indices of human development,” adding that “we believe it was our destiny.”

They, however, urged Buhari “to promptly eradicate all forms of insurgency and violence across the country. This should be the starting point. Nothing works without peace. We recently had cause to plead with the nation to come up with a Marshall Plan for the North East, starting first by setting up a high level Presidential Assessment Committee to take stock of the level of devastation. We need to be quickly rescued, rehabilitated, reconstructed, resettled and re-established.”

The leaders said, “We see this as a victory for democracy, peace and harmony throughout the country and beyond. It is a victory for the Black race and the masses in general. The wild jubilation that erupted throughout the country, from Lagos to Baga, Sokoto to Calabar and, indeed, worldwide shows that Nigerians do not resort to violence whenever they get what they deserve.

“They easily express joy and celebrate and embrace one another irrespective of their differences. Nigerians deserve you as their President. They got you and expressed their appreciation by way of spontaneous jubilations.

“Nigerians have gotten the change they desperately needed. Knowing the calibre of the President-elect and his running mate and their antecedents, we will certainly have a strong and purposeful leadership that will formulate policies and programmes that will uplift not only Nigeria and Nigerians, but also Africa and Africans.”

They said besides insurgency, “Over the few years, Nigeria has been terribly polarised on sectional, religious and ethnic lines. We thank the Al-Mighty Allah that Nigerians remained resolute in their desire for one indivisible, indissoluble and indestructible nation. Indeed, the spirit of Nigerians as our brothers’ keepers persisted at the level of the masses of our people. Now, the President-elect needs to cash in on this spirit of Nigerians demonstrated by the masses throughout the nation.

“The President-elect needs to quickly address the diversification of sources of revenue generation in the country. We need to massively pay attention to agriculture and solid mineral development. We equally need to accelerate the exploration and exploitation of petroleum deposits, particularly in the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough and other places in Nigeria.”

They added that the new government has the urgent task of taking “away from the streets the millions of our unemployed youths. Jobs need to be created on daily basis and young people should be encouraged. All school age children must be compelled to go to school. Massive investment in education and vocational training should be a priority.

“Nigerians desperately need electricity, good healthcare, houses, roads, food and improved water supply and above all, security. Our Armed Forces, the police and, indeed, all men and women in uniform need to be protected, motivated, well kitted and their needs of housing, equipment and so on adequately taken care of. There is also the urgent need for mass recruitment into the Nigeria Police. The current number of police personnel is grossly inadequate. The pride and dignity of our police and the military must be restored. This is the pride of every great nation.”

The elders congratulated Buhari and the Vice President-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and prayed for a smooth transition of power in the country.

•Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows Boko Haram.

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