The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Service Chiefs have been advised to make their appointment count by decisively tackling the Boko Haram menace as well as liaising with other arms of the security apparatus to ensure enhanced security across the country ahead of the 2015 elections.

The advice was contained in a congratulatory message by the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which expressed happiness with the confirmation, last week by the Senate, of the appointment of Air Marshal Alex Badeh as CDS; Major General Kenneth Minimah as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun as Chief of Air Staff.

The party said in a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt by its State Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya: “We are happy to note the earlier promise of the new Chief of Defence Staff to end the Boko Haram insurgency latest by April this year and we wish to congratulate him and the new Service Chiefs in advance for this feat. We however hope that this is not a political statement made to fast-forward their confirmation by the Senate because terrorism is a serious matter which is not usually ended within the batting of an eyelid.

“Even so, the need to urgently resolve the Boko Haram challenge cannot be over-emphasised in view of its potential to disenfranchise millions of registered voters in the North-East during the 2015 general elections – a development which should be prevented because of its dire implications.”

APC Rivers hailed the appointment of the new set of military commanders as well deserved, describing the four of them as thoroughbred professionals who have distinguished themselves in the course of their individual careers.

“Since a new broom usually sweeps better, it is our hope that this new set of military commanders will move quickly to beef up security, not only in the North-East, but indeed throughout the country, in collaboration with other arms of the security apparatus,” the statement added.

The statement condemned “unequivocally the continued spreading of falsehood and malicious reports against principal actors of APC by Jerry Needam alias Jerry the Liar, the mouth-piece of PDP in Rivers State, particularly his latest report alleging that Hon. Chief Dakuku Peterside, Chairman of the Downstream Petroleum Committee of the House of Representatives, worked against the clearance of Major General Kenneth Minimah from Rivers State as the Chief of Army Staff in the National Assembly, knowing very well that that was a blatant lie considering the cordial relationship between Hon Peterside and General Minimah and the general respect we all have on General Minimah as a distinguished son of Rivers State.”

APC Rivers said it “read with happiness the fear of PDP in Rivers State based on her latest press statement about the ongoing membership drive and registration exercise of APC in Rivers State and their acceptance that they have lost the local government election in the state even before a date is announced for the election.”

“We sincerely commend and congratulate the party in Rivers State for accepting defeat based on the overwhelming acceptance of the Rivers State people to join APC in mass. This is a sign of maturity as it is very clear even to the blind Jerry that PDP is dead in Rivers State and we are happy that this fact is becoming very conspicuous to those still remaining in the party,” the statement concluded.

•Photo shows Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

Update news