Breaking: Buhari visits troops in Maiduguri to celebrate Independence

…Barrister Saliu submitted, adding that the President/Government’s media aides must be hugely appreciated at this time, “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is wonderful! Mr. Femi Adesina is exemplary! Mallam Garba Shehu is great! Ha! My wonderful woman, I am not close to her, Mrs Lauretta Onochie, I greet! These are wonderful components in the administrational vehicle that drives the information and image capacity of the President, no matter how critical those who say they don’t give information about the government are,” he said.  Barrister Jimoh Saliu is one of the many respondents of The DEFENDER but who doesn’t subscribe to speaking in anonymity.  He however does not see speaking under condition of anonymity as any offence.

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has traveled to Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria to celebrate the nation’s 57th Independence anniversary with troops defending the nation against Boko Haram terrorists.

When The DEFENDER sent him a text to confirm the authenticity of the information, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity (SAMP), Mr. Femi Adesina, said the information was correct.

A military source also confirmed the information as true as, according to him, he too was there in Maiduguri.

He said, “Yes, right now am in Maiduguri and I can confirm to you that the President is in Maiduguri to boost the morale of our gallant soldiers,” the source said.

President Buhari had in his address on Sunday commended the military for defending the nation in the fight against terrorism.

According to him, the military had done well in rolling back the frontiers of Boko Haram’s terrorism, defeating them and reducing them to cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.

In the meantime, many Nigerians contacted to comment on the President’s unannounced visit gave thumps up for the Daura, Katsina State-born retired General, who since coming to office for the second time as civilian President after having spent one year eight months as Military Head of State (January 1984-August 1985).

One of the respondents,An Akure, Ondo State capital-based lawyer, Mr. Jimoh Saliu, said, “Mr. President is one leader that is no more or less describable as an enigma. He is one leader so far, after the First Republic set of leaders, that one can say is man of his word who would talk less and act more. I give a thump up for President Buhari on this historic visit to troops at the war front in Maiduguri, Borno State and I pray that Allah will continue to give him the strength to do more of these surprises for the good of the country.

“No matter the politicking of those politicians either within or outside his party who behave like the same Nigeria he is trying hard to fix is not where they had once played served as governments and are still struggling to rule, President Buhari, as an Allah-chosen, will continue to overcome all negative politicking and in the end, Nigeria through his efforts and the solid electoral and economic foundations he has laid will be great again. Happy Independence Nigeria!” Barrister Saliu submitted, adding that the President/Government’s media aides must be hugely appreciated at this time, “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is wonderful! Mr. Femi Adesina is exemplary! Mallam Garba Shehu is great! Ha! My wonderful woman, I am not close to her, Mrs Lauretta Onochie, I greet! These are wonderful components in the administrational vehicle that drives the information and image capacity of the President, no matter how critical those who say they don’t give information about the government are,” he said.

Barrister Jimoh Saliu is one of the many respondents of The DEFENDER but who doesn’t subscribe to speaking in anonymity.  He however does not see speaking under condition of anonymity as any offence.

In the meantime, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, and the three other Service Chiefs on Saturday, according to Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General John Enenche, had moved to Maiduguri to celebrate the nation’s 57th Independence Anniversary with troops in the frontline.

The other Service Chief are: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Force Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sadique Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ebok Ete-Ibas.

Also in Maiduguri with the service chiefs to celebrate the anniversary with the troops is the Director-General, Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura.

General Enenche told journalists in Maiduguri that the service chiefs would celebrate with the fighting troops to boost their morale and thank them for their efforts so far.

Mr. Enenche also said the service chiefs would use the opportunity to meet with the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Ibrahim Attahiru.

He added that the service chiefs would use the occasion to review the renewed strategies up in place since July, to flush out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.

According to him, the renewed operational tactical strategies adopted by the Army, Air force and Navy have recorded successes.