Nigerians Should Appreciate Nation’s Armed Forces – GEJ

President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that any leader in the country who involves the military in the nation’s political activities is reckless. He stressed that the nation’s armed forces must be appreciated by all Nigerians and be insulated from politics.
Jonathan made his statement while receiving a cheque of N1m from Dotun Oyetunde in support of the nation’s armed forces, The Punch reports. The presentation was made before a meeting of the Security Council presided over by the president.
Jonathan confessed that he always feels bad when he hears people making insulting statements about the nation’s military.
“We must continue to commend men of the Nigerian armed forces. A nation must honour men of its armed forces.
“All the nations that we emulate and build our democracy after do not insult their military.
“They must be appreciated and insulated from politics. I feel bad when leaders robe military into our day to day political activities. That is reckless.
“These men stay in the rain while we are under roofs. They stay awake for us to sleep well” , he said.
Continuing his statement, Jonathan acknowledged the support the military is currently receiving from Nigerians. But he also called on other Nigerians to follow the example of those who have been donating money and helping the Nigerian army. According to the president, the assistance could be channeled through the chief of defence staff, the national security adviser on the minister of defence.
Speaking on his decision to donate money, Oyetunde said that he and his wife were moved by the plight of troops in the hands of the Boko Haram sect. The donor also expressed his surprise that everybody seemed to be criticising the military and their actions.
Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the chief of defence staff, while introducing the donor, told the president that the military had received various donations such as drugs, bags of rice and cartons of instant noodles among other things.
He further added that when he received Oyetunde’s message, he discussed it with the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who suggested that the donor should personally present the cheque to the president during the meeting.
Meanwile, the Nigerian army has carried out a number of successful operations against the Boko Haram terrorist group. On Monday, March 16, it recaptured the northeastern city of Bama in Borno state from members of the sect.