Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari on his efforts at ending the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region.
Speaking during a visit to Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, at the Government House Maiduguri on Monday, Obasanjo expressed delight that the terrorists have been greatly incapacitated.
"I know that he (Buhari) is very, very concerned about the insurgency. He has gotten it right that first of all there must be military ascendency over the insurgents," he said.
"I think we are not out of the wood yet, but it appeared we can see the light beyond the tunnel.
There is no doubt that with the combined efforts at the local level, at the state level and at the federal level, even at the community level, that our security forces are on the ascendency over the forces of destruction and the menace of insurgency that we have experienced for almost six years now."
He also touched on the gradual return to normalcy in Maiduguri and environs.
"My experience from the airport to Government House is that what I experienced in 2011 is different from what I experienced today.
"There is evidence that things are changing, the situation is improving. We pray that by the end of this year no one will be in the Internally Displaced Persons camp again," Obasanjo said.
He condoled with the state government over the loss of lives and property to the insurgency, while appealing to political leaders in the region to eschew negativity.
It will be recalled that the armed forces have recorded substantial gains in the fight against terror in recent weeks, with scores of insurgents either killed or arrested as their strongholds are sacked.
Credit: Punch