The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says some Nigerians would have mocked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), if Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, had been killed after his jet was shot down by bandits in Zamfara on Sunday.
Dairo, who has been hailed for his gallantry, was able to exit the aircraft and ingeniously deploy his parachute which saved his life and he was able to escape from the bandits.
In an article titled, ‘May God Bless Our Troops’, Adesina said some Nigerians would have mocked Buhari had the pilot died.
He wrote, “Imagine what could have happened if the evil guys got him. They would have killed him worse than you do to a snake, butchering and dismembering him. And they would have recorded it, and put it on social media.
“Evil hearts would then start sharing it, deriving a pernicious joy in it all, thinking it was the Buhari administration they were undoing. Really? No, they would only be betraying their lack of humanity, and avowing their loyalty to the devil, that father of all liars and wicked souls.”
Adesina said Nigerians must forever remain grateful to the military for keeping the nation safe from bandits, kidnappers, secessionists, cultists and murderers.
“When we sleep at night, and cuddle our wives (or husbands, or pillows, as the case may be), these troops are out on the frontlines, keeping the night watch, and ensuring we enjoy our sleep. When it rains, and we crawl under the blankets, or it shines hot enough to boil the Devil, and we turn our air conditioning to the coldest, these soldiers are out there, under the elements, fighting to keep our country whole,” the President’s spokesman said.
He argued that it was unfortunate that some Nigerians insult soldiers for failing to eliminate Boko Haram.
“They say bandits are winning the war, and insurrectionists are running rings around them. They rejoice when soldiers get killed. Those who have never even downed a bird with a catapult all their lives, run their mouths off our gallant troops, who sacrifice so much for the country. Pity,” said Adesina.
The President’s spokesman argued that peace would return to the country soon, adding that the fact that there was no violence during the Sallah holiday shows that progress is being made.
The country has witnessed a spike in insecurity in the last six months. Nearly three thousand people have been killed by terrorists, bandits and herdsmen in several parts of the country while about 1,000 students have been abducted within the same period.
