The National Committee of Yoruba Youth and the coalition of Civil Society Against Terrorism in Nigeria have also slammed a group, known as the Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS) headed by Dr Idris Ahmed, describing the actions of the group and particularly of its leader, Dr. Idris Ahmed as unpatriotic and inimical, to the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.
Speaking through the Convener and Secretary of the coalition, Odeyemi Oladimeji and Atani John in a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan, against recent report, credited to Dr Idris Ahmed, where he accused the leadership of the Nigerian Army, of failing to pay till date, the salaries and allowances of its Soldiers, drafted to the Operation Lafiya Dole, the code name for the Military operations in the North East against the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency, the coalition insisted that “No amount of blackmail and wild allegations against the leadership of the Nigerian Army, particularly the Chief of Army staff, General Tukur Buratai, can derail the Army and its leadership, from pressing further in defeating the now decimated Boko Haram insurgents, and their Intellectual wing, whose major preoccupation, is to continually disseminate unfounded allegations, such as the latest from Dr Idris Ahmed and his CUPS, in order to misinform the general public and ultimately, demoralize our hard fighting troops, in the front lines.”
“Nigerians are wise and are clearly informed, about the commitments of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to the war against terrorism, coupled with their strong belief, in the integrity of the Army leadership, which has continued to prioritize the welfare of officers and men of the army, against what was obtainable in the past, all these to the disappointment of the intellectual wing of Boko Haram, whose blackmails and inciting utterances have in the past, served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism in our country.” the statement further said.
The groups further stated, that it will use every available legal means, to stop the CUPS and its leader, Dr Idris Ahmed, from making further incendiary remarks, such that emboldened insurgents, and demoralized the men and officers of the Nigerian Army, who are giving their best, towards restoring total normalcy, in the North East region, and the country as a whole.
“We urge Nigerians to carefully understand that all the ricocheting calls being made by Dr Idris Ahmed, under the guise of patriotism, are merely aimed at distracting the Army and the leadership, from the main focus of totally defeating Boko Haram, and are incontrovertible proofs, of the desperation of some politically exposed personalities, to sustain the Boko Haram insurgency, for their selfish political gains.”
“Nigerians appreciate the way and manner the Army leadership has taken the welfare of the men and officers as an unprecedented priority, and the gains it has attracted, to the nation, in the war against terrorism, despite numerous efforts by the detractors, to distract the Army leadership and demoralize our troops.”
The group said it has mandated its legal team to approach the court, to pursue every possible redress, that will checkmate the actions of CUPS, its leadership and all those, who have continued to embark on all forms of actions, which seek to promote insurgency and demoralize members of the nation’s security forces.