The president reiterated this position in its maiden meeting with the service chiefs yesterday. He had announced this strategy during his inaugural address to the nation on Friday. According to him, their relocation to the epicentre of the battle would add vigour to the war against Boko Haram.
As reported by LEADERSHIP yesterday, the service chiefs who attended the meeting are the chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh; chief of army staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah; chief of air staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, and the chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman.
According to an informed military source, President Buhari’s plan to relocate the Command and Control Centre to Maiduguri did not receive the support of the military high command.
At the meeting, according to an insider account, the attention of the service chiefs was brought to the story about their reluctance to relocate the CCC but the military chiefs reportedly said they would comply with the president’s order.
“We are not indifferent to the directive, Your Excellency; we are only waiting for official directive since it was from the inaugural address that you made the observation. And even be that as it may, we are already working out the modalities for the implementation of the directive, sir,” the CDS was quoted to have spoken on behalf of his colleagues.
Buhari was said to have explained to them the reason for his position and all the parties were said to have reasoned along with him.
“President Buhari told them that the presence of the Command and Control Centre will not only accelerate the operations by bridging the communication gap between Abuja and Maiduguri but will instil fear in the terrorists and discourage them from threatening the peace and the unity of the country,” said the source.
In his maiden speech last Friday, Buhari argued that victory over Boko Haram would remain a mirage unless the service chiefs relocated to the theatre of operation.
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