Opinion: Boko Haram, Leahy Law And Waiver

Editor’s note: Reactions have continued to trail Senator Patrick Leahy of United States of America, who described as “misdirected” President Buhari’s opinion on the US law that  prohibits assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity.

Story highlights:

– Leahy Law of the United States of America, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy, has prevented the country from assisting Nigeria who is in serious need of support in her fight against insurgency

– Insurgents have retreated to hit and run as compared to their hit and occupy with courage tactics of the past.

–  Nigeria deserve to be given a waiver under the leadership of the new.

Well known to Nigerians and close international observers, it is needless to say that the cold-blooded Boko Haram sect has wreak havoc on the North Eastern part of the country, particularly Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Their horrendous activities have led to the death of thousands of innocent people and have caused the displacement of over a million innocent residents.

People of good conscience can start to imagine the pitiable state of those that have been maimed, displaced and families of those who loved ones have died untimely. It’s indeed a tragedy!

This is the not the time to shift blame or accuse previous Nigerian government but we can all still recall very vividly the lip service they paid to the fight against insurgency. Their rampage festered until they hoisted flags and laid maximum siege on about 16 Local Governments. The then opposition but now ruling party was accused of sponsoring Boko Haram.

READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode Accuses US Government Of Aiding Boko Haram, Blasts Leahy

However, it will be uncharitable of me not to acknowledge that the then administration at the latter end of their administration got serious embarked on calculated offense until insurgents were dislodged from some of the towns they controlled. Yes!

Dislodged, seriously degraded but our sovereign nation can’t sing the song of victory yet. Far President Buhari in his inaugural speech described Boko Haram as mindless, godless group.

He had since moved the centre of military operations from Abuja to the heart of the insurgency in Maiduguri, so that military leaders are on ground to lead the effort from the front line. To expand counter-terrorism operations, President Buhari committed an initial sum of $21m to the Multinational Joint Task Force for rapid take-off, appointed new service chiefs in which we have the new National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno and Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai both from Borno State; a strategy which probably is to deploy people with ancestral knowledge of the theatre of war.

The strategic steps chronicled above is not done to shower praises on this current government, at least for now, but to bring it to the fore that the government of President Buhari has displayed some timely commitment and leadership.

Insurgents have retreated to hit and run as compared to their hit and occupy with courage tactics of the past. The right leadership has been provided but the assistance of international community is required to support with sophisticated ammunitions, weaponry, training and intelligence.

Leahy Law of the United States of America, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy, has prevented the country from assisting Nigeria who is in serious need of support in her fight against insurgency. Nigeria has been accused of human rights violations but President Buhari during his recent visit to the United States, reiterated that the allegations will be investigated and the rule of engagement has been redesigned to ensure that human rights are not abused.

In view of the foregoing coupled with the strategic place of Nigeria on the African continent and indeed world; Nigeria deserve to be given a waiver under the leadership of the new.

For purpose of this opinion paper, it is important to highlight some relevant sections of the Leahy Law which states:

(a) (1) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for any training, equipment or other assistance for the members of a unit of a foreign security force if the Secretary of Defence has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. (C) waiver-

READ ALSO: US Senator Blasts Buhari, Nigerian Military Over Boko Haram

The Secretary of Defence, after consultation with the Secretary of State, may waive the prohibition in subsection (a) (1) if the Secretary of Defence determines that such waiver is required by extra-ordinary circumstances.

It is worthy of note that the Leahy Law made provisions for exemption and waiver if an ‘extra-ordinary circumstance’ warrant it. I want to implore the United States to waive this prohibition as the time to completely push back and destroy extremists of warp ideology is now.

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This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.

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