STILL ON THE A-29 SUPER TUCANO AIRCRAFTS JUST PROCURED BY NIGERIA: COMMENT BY UCHE DIALA

“Beyond the new hardware that you see on this runway, this program has brought our two militaries closer in formal training, professional development, air base construction, logistics planning, and negotiations. We are proud to partner with Nigeria in its ‘whole of government’ approach to end violent extremism and ensure a more stable, prosperous country for all Nigerians, .. .

“The Super Tucano is a dual-pilot turboprop aircraft built as a workhorse combat air platform, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and for precision air-to-ground strike missions. The next six aircraft are scheduled for delivery later this year.

“The Super Tucano platform for Nigeria is the United States’ largest Foreign Military Sales program in Sub-Saharan Africa, valued at almost $500 million. This program follows the Department of Defense’s “Total Package Approach” model and includes spare parts for several years of operation, contract logistics support, munitions, and a multi-year construction project to improve Kainji’s infrastructure.

“Through this program, the U.S. Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, trained Nigerian pilots and maintenance crews to U.S. standards. Training also emphasizes the Law of Armed Conflict and Civilian Casualty Mitigation, which are fundamental principles of the Nigerian military’s professional education and training.

“With the A-29 Super Tucano purchase, the Nigerian Air Force also has become a founding member of the U.S. Air Force’s “Combined Light Attack Experiment,” which is developing Light Attack global best-practice tactics and doctrine for the 21st century.”

– Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard.

The US’ Chargé d’Affaires Kathleen FitzGibbon, today, Tuesday, 27th July 2021, inspected the newly arrived first 6 American Sierra Nevada Corporation/Embraer Defense and Security A-29 “Super Tucano” Light Attack aircrafts which the NAF took delivery of last Thursday, out of 12 ordered by Nigeria under the Buhari Administration.

#ME:
This is a man who some say has no certificate; some say he has failed; some say he is lifeless; others say he is dead etc but he has the sense of duty and presence of mind to think futuristically, to restore the pride, glory and strength of his nation; rebuild the past that was left to rotten so that the children of today who will be leaders of tomorrow will have the neccesary tools to succeed and be greater than today’s generation of Nigerians.

Yet some people love to hate him. Imagine that those before him that we love, did a quarter of what he is doing; even when there was plenty.

The same old man earned the respect and trust of the almighty United States to sell and share strategic military assets to and with his nation. Assets which they refuse many nations, even with all their resources. At the same time forging and strengthening a strategic military alliance for a future unknown to all of us.

If any nation in the world would know if Buhari is insincere in his fight against terrorism, banditry and other misbehaving elements in Nigeria as some mischievously allege; or the much wailed about “Islamization and Fulanization agenda”, it is the United States of America. I am talking of hard core professional intelligence that is not based on emotions, hear say or infantile propaganda cooked and shared on social media and copy and paste blog sites by uncooked political neophytes, hate driven sore election losers and their brain washed acolytes.

People say I praise Buhari. Well, if it is praise, so be it.
If I no ‘praise’ a man who is doing the things that matter for me and my children; things that some others in the same position he occupies today; even with more time and resources should and could have done but failed to do, wetin I gain? I will never get tired of doing so.

Thank God Buhari never sees me or my ‘praise’ but God sees my sincere and grateful heart. That is all that matters.

All I Will Say Is:
God Bless Buhari
God Bless Nigeria and
God Bless Our Military.

Join me and say AMEN if you love and appreciate good things.

@Uche Diala