CESJET hails Buhari. Says Donald Trump’s approval for sale of 12 aircraft shows military reform is working

Nigeria - The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) says the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has reformed the Nigerian Military, hence Donald Trump’s approval for the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Colorado-based Sierra Nevada Corp to Nigeria.

CESJET noted that despite the improvement of the Military under the current leadership, foreign body like Amnesty International and the international media have refused to acknowledged it.

The group made the observation while commending the United States President, Donald Trump over the approval of the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Colorado-based Sierra Nevada Corp to Nigeria.

CESJET said the development was a testament to Trump’s commitment to his campaign promise to firmly deal with terrorism.

In an open letter by its Executive Secretary, Isaac Ikpa, the group said the signing off on the attack aircraft procurement opens a new vista of hope and encourages other nations that are willing to back counter-terrorism efforts.

Ikpa said, that the expectation is that the approval will soon extend to other categories of military hardware to aid Nigeria.The letter reads, “In this regard, Mr President’s pragmatic approach should become the reference point everywhere in the world.

“On the strength of our work in Nigeria, we testify that the Nigerian military has reformed while its human rights record has tremendously improved under the current leadership, a development that was never acknowledged by Amnesty International and the international media circuit.

“You have appropriately described them as “Fraudulent Mainstream Media” (Fraudulent MSM), purveyors of fake news, owing top your experience with how they distort facts to suit their agenda.

“Such agenda heavily tainted the reports that have been issued on Nigeria’s experience with combating terrorism. Reports by organizations like Amnesty International and others conflict with the reality on ground because they are based on their maliciously biased judgment of the Nigerian state.

“Attitude and practices like these have no place in the global anti-terror coalition envisaged by your administration, which you clearly made known to the American people and the rest of the world from the start.

“CESJET is of the view that the defeat of Boko Haram in Nigeria would move the world closer to stemming the tide of terrorism. The current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated commitment to this global imperative with the implementation of transparent defence procurement and adherence to high human rights benchmarks in its over two years in office. We therefore prescribe that relationship between Nigeria and the USA be further strengthened towards the eradication of terrorism in the sub-region.

“Mr President is however invited to note the escalation of attempts by Boko Haram to resurge in recent weeks. It is noteworthy that the degeneration in the situation in Nigeria’s northeast resumed only when the country began exploring crude oil in the Lake Chad Basin, which indicates international factors are involved in the persistence of terrorism there.

“It is therefore desirable that the intelligence community assist in exposing those who want to keep the world unsafe even when you have committed to the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

CESJET assures Mr President that it will continue to brief the office of POTUS about development on this issue.”