The boys have done Nigeria proud on the field by chasing the round leather, and at the same time the boys are chasing Boko Haram on the field in the North-East, courtesy of overhauled national ethos, led by the president. The second stanza of our national anthem is now activated in the minds of the Nigerian youths:

O God of creation,

Help our Youth the truth to know...

No doubt, the CHANGE that President Muhammadu Buhari represents has brought about these victories on all fields of contests where our boys fought hard to win.

The 2015 Chile U-17 World Cup has been won by Nigeria and the hero remains the President, during whose tenure as military Head of State in 1985 Nigeria won the maiden eition of the cup, and has now won it for the fifth time during his presidency.

One cogent reason is that throughout the competition, there was no short-change of match bonus by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials since everybody is conscious of the President’s ability to wade in and sanction any erring NFF official. In fact, the President gave out his personal phone line to the boys to report any incident of corruption to him live and direct.

It is the same spirit at work in the military that has boosted the morale of the fighting troops with the operational theatre based in the centre of war – Command and Control moved to the North East, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai, and Airforce Chief SB Abubakar leading the assaults. Not only that, all the troops are promptly paid all operational allowances, with promotions and medals of honour decorations by the Chief of Army Staff on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. That apart, the Nigerian military is now wholeheartedly committed to the cause of fully dislodging Boko Haram and the troops are now ready to die for Nigeria, since, according to some soldiers, “If one dies in operation now, family no go suffer to get entitlements.”

As I mentioned on Radio Nigeria Pidgin English network programme, Kontri Mata, the three months presidential order to defeat Boko Haram has largely been achieved because the main task by the President to the Service Chiefs was for Nigerian military to recover and re-take all lost territories from Boko Haram. As it is today, no Nigerian village or territory is under the control of Boko Haram as it was hitherto. The war command strategy of the C-in-C has worked because no General prosecutes a war without timeline and mandate to commanders. Kudos to the President.

The healthy headship of the Nigerian nation by Muhammadu Buhari has brought total healing to the whole Nigerian body. Nigerians are indeed good followers.

Well done boys on the fields.

•Olusegun Oyewole JP is Coordinator, The Presidential Prayer Team. Photo shows President Buhari at his desk.