Lawyer Commends FG Over Russia Arms Deal, State Of Emergency

Channels Tv

A legal practitioner, Mr Ben Onuoha, on Tuesday supported the Federal Government’s decision to turn to Russia for military support to fight the dreaded Boko Haram sect, insisting that “in politics, you only have permanent interests and not permanent friends.

A report by global risk consulting firm, Damina Advicers, on Monday revealed that Nigeria had turned to Russia for weapons and helicopter gunships to fight Boko Haram after repeated requests to the United States did not yield positive results.

“When those you consider  your friends fail you, you have a choice to make new friends while making efforts to mend that friendship that is now ruptured”, he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He noted that the threat posed to the Nigeria by Boko Haram is “very severe” and “we cannot afford to fold our arms.

“It is therefore appropriate and I think the government has done right on this to seek new friends because what we need is the cooperation of those who are truly and genuinely willing to assist Nigeria to fight this war”, adding that “if help comes from Russia or any other country, so be it. We can always go back to the US and resolve our differences”.

Though he noted that it is difficult to ignore the US because of “its power in the world”, he maintained that due to Nigeria’s long relationship with the world super power, only an “extraordinary thing will makes not to get the support of the US”

He also supported President Jonathan’s emergency rule in three north eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa insisting that it is no “joke” but “a serious matter” that “is required at this time because the provisions and requirements to grant it are all there”.

He urged Nigerians to be more concerned with “critical things” needed by the military to fight the insurgents rather than worrying about the results achieved while the north eastern states were under the emergency rule.

Mr Onuoha further noted that “the constitution provides for certain statutory bodies- the National Defence Council and National Security Council- these bodies are populated by the top brass of the military, the President, the Vice President- to they give the President advice on what they need and what they don’t need”.

Though, he acknowledged the efforts of the Civilian JTF and local hunters, he maintained that the Nigerian military will still lead the charge against the insurgents; insisting that “if they say they want this, it behooves on us to provide it for them”.

He, however, noted that he expected the President to have done some “ground work” before sending the request to the National Assembly seeking an extension of the State of Emergency in the three north eastern states.

“The President should have done more by way of engaging the leadership of the National Assembly; if he did I do not know, but it is important, if that was done, it has not manifested at all.

“In the US it is called lobbying. If you want something for you, you must take people you want to approach into confidence” warning that “Nigeria is at risk” if this matter is not treated beyond political party leanings”.