Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the “soul of the North, and of Nigeria by extension, is being contested by some of the most destructive and evil forces in contemporary history.”
He, however, said the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari is firmly resolved to resist and defeat them.
The VP said this as Special Guest of Honour at the 8th Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation Memorial Lecture in Kano State, on Tuesday, as disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.
Osinbajo asserted that “it is a fight we are determined to win. And we know that by the grace of God, all of these evil forces will be completely exterminated.”
Emphasising the rationale for a tough, collaborative resistance, the VP submitted that without it “neither the glorious legacies of the past nor the future our children will inherit is immune to the unchecked onslaught.”
It is for this reason, he explained, that the President “on numerous occasions reiterated the view that our peace and security architecture must recognise that traditional institutions are our first line of defence against the forces of anarchy.”
He further noted that this explains why the Federal Government has deepened its partnership with traditional institutions on several fronts, adding that “given their familiarity with the local environment, traditional institutions are integral to our nationwide programme of community policing and can deliver valuable intelligence to state authorities.”
He continued, “In many communities, the military and law enforcement agencies are partnering with local age-grade groups, hunters, and various associations under the sanction of the traditional leadership.”
He pointed out that “the Federal Government has remained resolute in the fight against terrorists and insurgents. Recent efforts have focused on deploying technology for surveillance, intelligence gathering and attack.
“We will also continue to encourage collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Justice, their state counterparts, and law enforcement, to ensure that those who have been apprehended for terrorism and violent crimes are effectively prosecuted.”
