No timeline to end insurgency, says APC

THE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has denied media reports that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari promised to end the Boko Haram insurgency within two months of assuming power.

APCPCO’s Head of Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said President-elect Buhari did not put any timeline to ending terrorism since he would study the situation and plan strategies with security chiefs to end insurgency.

Shehu said while Buhari remained resolute to ending insurgency, he would do a good job by giving a final push to ending terrorism.

“His Excellency the President-elect is still waiting to be sworn in on May 29. After the ceremony, he would need time to study the security situation and plan strategically with the security chiefs on the way forward.

“Time is of the essence here. Therefore, President Buhari didn’t and wouldn’t peg the decimation of terrorism from the country’s territories to just two months.

 “The President-elect was unequivocal about cleansing Boko Haram from our land; he would do a good job of it by giving a final permanent push to rid Nigeria of unscrupulous elements.

 “Buhari said that much to the world media, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN). He never put a time-frame to when he would eliminate terrorists, and it would be unfair and mischievous for someone to ascribe to him what he hasn’t said.”

The APC has assured that it would repackage the Tsangayya Educational system (Almajiri education programme) of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to ensure that it functions properly as it should.

APC’s National Youth leader Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo, who said this at a victory celebration organised by the youth wing of the party, said the Almajiri scheme as presently constituted was meant to score political gains and, therefore, not functioning properly.

Jalo told reporters after the victory rally that “the Almajiri programme is going on, but for us who are educationists, we know that the system is not functioning the way it ought to. It is just there for political gains, but I want to assure you that it will be revisited and implemented in a proper way for the benefit of the Almajiris.”

He expressed confidence that the outcome of the presidential election would necessitate a bandwagon effect during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“There is going to be a bandwagon effect, most especially in the Southeast and the Southsouth. Those who understand the history of Nigeria politics and how it works will rightly predict victory for APC and it will surely come to pass by God’s grace.”

Also speaking, Senator-elect for Kogi West Dino Melaye thanked hundreds of APC youth supporters, who gathered to celebrate the victory, and  assured them that as soon as President-elect Buhari is sworn in, corruption will be a thing of the past in Nigeria and the “Chibok girls will be rescued”.