In View Of Recent Developments & The Protracted Nature Of The #BokoHaram Conflict, I Believe That The FG Now Need To Escalate A Political Process To New Highs. The Takeoff Point Has To Be The Appointment Of A "Special Rapporteur On The NE Conflict"
The obdurate leadership of BH+ISWAP will not readily accede to a peace process BUT there are aprroach roads at the lower level which can be escalated at the level of the populace to create a better operational backdrop for those who are tasked with security operations in that AoR
Even as that did not stack up to the NE Insurgency in terms of intensity, we have seen this pan out in the equally long standing conflict on the Jos Plateau, an area which was already stablilized enough as of 2014 as NOT to warrant fears of an inability to hold elections there
Basically, and notwithstanding the seeming flareup seen since June 2018,all of that panned out under the enlightened leadership of Maj Gen Henry Ayoola whose application of a carrot-and-stick approach, in tandem with hearts-and-minds gestures earned him a huge dose of soft power
Ayoola improved the rapid response capabilities of security forces, particularly as they pertain to rocky+inaccessible highland communities and advanced community engagement+peace building measures at the level of the populace
Concerning hearts-and-minds gestures which aimed to secure a favourable operational backdrop, I recall that Ayoola, an engineer by training, dotted the place with small, sustainable+ meaningful projects such as solar-powered boreholes
In effect, the deeply religious Ayoola was both a multiagency force commander and special rapporteur in his AoR. It worked very well on the Jos Plateau. That, we saw
I'll be the first to admit that the NE Insurgency is a different kettle of fish and that the Theatre Commander cannot double as special rapporteur there. We have to find someone for the latter role
The Presidential Initiative on the Northeast would play a complementary role that is centred on project development while the special rapporteur would fashion out political courses of action which keep the populace engaged+sensitized
Additionally, I would suggest that the Office of the National Security Adviser immediately engage the services of certain retired officers with the right repertoir of relevant experience so that their knowhow can be tapped into, going forward
1. Lt Gen Chikadibia Obiakor who was the UN Military Adviser and whose as UNMIL Force Commander in Liberia was a critical actor in the transitory phase from war to peace there
2. Major General Festus Okonkwo who was the ECOMIL Force Commander that led the interposition force into Liberia in August 2003 and also pioneered the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) intervention in the cauldron that was Darfur
3. Major General Moses Bisong Obi who led the pre-partition UN Mission in Sudan(UNMIS) and subsequently, also led the post-split UN Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS)
The duo of Gens Okonkwo and Obi went into Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan in times which replicate the transitional phase such as currently suffices in our NE where parts are gripped by armed conflict and where a semblance of peace has returned to certain parts
As we say in Nigeria, "the earlier the better". Time is of the essence. Good morning. I am DONE.
