Elites used Boko Haram to advance selfish Interest.

Nigeria’s former chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, on Wednesday, August 5, accused the country elite of using Boko Haram terrorists to advance their selfish interests.
Leadership reports that the ex service chief also alleged that the authorities neglected health and vitality of the army by not ensuring the adequate funding.
Minimah, who was sacked in July and replaced by Major General Tukur Buratai, made  a claim when was delivering a speech at the ceremony held to commemorate his retirement.
“The insurgency snowballed into a graver dimension because these people exploited the security challenge to further sectional, religious and political interests.”

Kenneth Minimah

He stressed the importance for the country leadership to create the adequate conditions for recruitment, training and equipping in the army insisting that a nation can be strong as long as its military is strong.
He further urged Nigerians to support the government and security forces in the fight against Boko Haram and other criminal elements to ensure peace in the country.
“In the last decade, we have seen the extent to which people who harbour evil against their fellow co-patriots can go to inflict pain and death on innocent people.
READ ALSO: I Am Leaving To You A Stronger Army – Minimah To New COAS
“This is the time for us to rise in unison not only to condemn but to take actions against the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in order to foster peace and security in our society.
“Perhaps, if we had all stood against the terrorists at the outset through condemnation of their activities and active collaboration with the military to confront them, rather than use it as a tool to advance section, tribal, religious and political interests, we would not have been where we find ourselves today.
“We must therefore all unite and support our government and security forces to tackle the current security challenges.”
Now, when Minimah talks about under-funding of the military, it is worth recalling scandalous incidents of soldiers lamenting over bad equipment at the time of Minimah’s tenure. Speaking last year on the matter, he said that the Nigerian army was far better equipped than the insurgents and had sophisticated weapons and manpower to win the anti-terrorism battle.