Wogu Calls For Declaration Of Total War Against Boko Haram

Boko Haram insurgents

Former minister of Labour and Productivity and governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chief Emeka Wogu, has called for a declaration of total war against the Boko Haram militant group similar to the type taken by federal forces against the defunct Biafra.

Wogu said this in a chat with Vanguard over the situation of things in the North East, as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.

“What is happening in the North-East now demands full military action against the Boko Haram group. A group that has gone the length of carving out some portion of Nigerian land for itself, and has declared war on our sovereignty,” said Wogu.

“Full action must be taken against the group. Yes, many of those who criticise the President may not have considered the fact that the President, as the father of all, including the people of Borno has been considerate of the effect of collateral damage on the people and this may have accounted for the hesitance of the use of full military action,” the former minister explained.

He also dismissed insinuations that the conflict in the North-East would affect President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances in the presidential election, pointing out that a huge crowd had welcomed Jonathan during his campaign visit to Maiduguri, a development which showed the popularity of the president in the region.

Wogu said that the continued bloodletting in the North-East was a direct challenge to the territorial integrity of the country and must be checked with every resource available to the country.

He lauded President Jonathan’s efforts so far in seeking to avoid collateral damage to the people of the North-East, but noted, however, that the fact that the Boko Haram group had succeeded in carving territory for itself within the nation’s landmass demanded that the nation use its full military force on the group.