BY DANIEL IDONOR, Abuja
IMMEDIATE past National Security Adviser, NSA, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusua, Saturday, called for the adoption of the right strategy to curtail the wave of terrorism unleashed in the north by the Boko Haram sect.

Gusau, who spoke while delivering a paper as guest speaker at 1st Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Lecture, said that terrorism can be defeated.

Speaking on ‘Actualising Nigeria: The Dynamics of Power, Politics, Enterprise and Security,’he said the country needs a multi-dimensional strategy to address the root causes while suppressing the negative manifestation through appropriate use of national power.

He noted that to make the country safe and secure, there must be a sound security strategy and investments in the requisite security infrastructure.

The strategy, according to him, will determine how the nation employs the elements of power to make the country safe and secure.

While also noting that occasional drafting of the military in special circumstances when there are crisis was acceptable, he, however, warned that the prolonged involvement of military troops in the maintenance of internal security is on the long-run counter-productive and should be avoided.

Taking a score card of the progress made by the country, the former NSA hinted that the country has been under pretence, a situation, he said, has become a major feature of the country’s dilemma as it reflected in many aspects in the life of the nation.

suspected Boko Haram members

Gusau noted that the claim of unity in diversity is faulted as pretence by the constant urge to balkanize the country into smaller political units, which he said accentuates differences rather than cements integration.

He stated that the preservation of the country against threats to its survival, from internal and external sources, and the guarantee of the freedom to pursue vital interests without hindrances must be given the highest priority.

He added that security has become the most pressing concern of every Nigerian. He also sounded a warning that security cannot be considered in isolation, as, according to him, “but as part of the overall framework for governance”.

In his review of the life of Gen. Yar’Adua, the former NSA said rather than feed on political connections and patronage, the late Yar’Adua, who he described as a successful entrepreneur, soldier and statesman, strove boldly to create wealth for himself and others by establishing many successful enterprises.

He said the late general was in tune with the reality of his operational environment.