Former military Head of State, general Yakubu Gowon has dismissed the December 2015 deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the military to overcome the Boko Haram terror group.
Speaking in Abakaliki when he led an advocacy visit to Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Tuesday, October 27, 2015, Gowon said although he believed in the ability of the Nigerian military to wipe of the insurgents, the deadline given by the president was not feasible.
He said: “I can tell you this, nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end. And as a (former) Commander-in- chief, I know this.
“Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond. To end it, that is the most important thing.
“I assure you that I have absolute confidence in our military that they are going to really deal with the situation as they are doing at the moment.”
While hailing the successes recorded by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Gowon condemned the terrorists’ use of children as suicide bombers.
“May the spirits of these poor little children who are being brainwashed to carry out such heinous crimes rest in peace,” he enthused.
