Govt cautions military over damage in operations against Boko Haram

• The Patriots urges neutrality at elections

• Rejects transition govt

TO avert the abuse of human rights and violations of international humanitarian laws, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has advised the military to exercise caution in all its operations aimed at curtailing the Boko Haram to reduce damage to the barest minimum.

  The advice came against the backdrop of the recent commitment made by the African Union (AU) heads of state in the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to contribute troops to fight the terror group.

  Meanwhile, The Patriots, a platform of some eminent Nigerians, has appealed to the security agencies to demonstrate utmost professionalism and neutrality in the discharge of their duties during and after the planned 2015 elections.

 Wali, who led the Nigerian delegation to the just concluded AU summit, said it was gratifying to note that the international community has finally realised the intensity of the threat posed by the Boko Haram terror activities.

  In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wali  noted that Nigeria’s neighbours have also realised that such terror activities are potently capable of destabilizing the whole region and even beyond .

  He praised the resolved of the international community to further strengthen efforts of the MNJTF that has been working to diffuse Boko Haram.

Wali recalled that at the AU summit ,the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), member states expressed the greatest solidarity with Nigeria and other member nations affected by the Boko Haram debacle .

 According to him, speakers after speakers, heads of state and government and their representatives spoke with loudest voices against the wanton disregard  for human lives and property as illustrated by sustained Boko Haram attacks and reiterated the commitment of ECOWAS to work assiduously with government of Nigeria to stem the ugly trend.

  The Patriots also said that “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must improve on its logistics and ensure that they are ready for the election of March 28, and April 11, 2015.”

  Addressing a press conference in Lagos Monday, Chairman of The Patriots, Prof Ben Nwabueze dismissed the call for transition government, saying such arrangement would plung the nation into serious constitutional crisis that may last for a very long time.

 “There is no constitutional arrangement for interim transition government in the present constitution, therefore I don’t see why people are making such call as it is capable of throwing us into another constitutional crisis,” Nwabueze said.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the group said: “Our national interest at this point in time in our history demands:

  • One, united Nigeria under a constitution respected and observed by all as the supreme law of the land, overriding all other laws, and as the glue, however weak, holding us together as one polity;

 •A constitution anchored on the people as the source of its authority, i.e. a constitution adopted and approved by the people at a referendum after mature deliberation in a national conference, convention or constituent assembly;

 •A constitutional democracy, i.e. a government whose powers are limited by a supreme constitution and whose principal members are elected in a free, fair and credible elections at periodic intervals of time;

 •An open, corruption-free government that is responsible and accountable to the people, and is responsive to their needs for security, development and welfare generally, provided the war against corruption is waved with due regard to the law of the constitution, especially its guarantee of rights; and

 •Free mobility of people throughout the country and full residence rights, unshackled by any laws based on religion or customary observance of sections of the peoples of Nigeria.”

  Present at the meeting were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Philip Asiodu, former Chief of Army Staff, Gen., Chris Ali, Sir Chris Okoye, Special Adviser to the President on Inter -Party Relations, Senator Ben Obi, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN) and Mr. Michael Orobator.