ICC Note: Muslim President-elect of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari is pledging to get tough on radical Islamic militants Boko Haram, placing their eradication at the top of his policy priority list. In an ironic twist, many in Nigeria believe a fellow that shares the same religion as Boko Haram is the most qualified candidate to combat them effectively. Buhari, himself survived an apparent assassination attempt by the insurgents in 2014. What remains to be seen is if the President-elect’s commitment to defeating the militants will translate into reduced persecution for Christians in northern Nigeria: one of the most dangerous places on earth to claim the Name of Christ.
By Alexis Akwagi Iram
4/1/15 Nigeria (Charisma News) – A day after becoming the first politician in Nigerian history to succeed a sitting leader by ballot, president-elect Muhammadu Buhari promised on Wednesday to “spare no effort” to defeat Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
The 72-year-old general, who first came to power three decades ago via a military coup and campaigned as a born-again democrat, also promised to tackle graft in Africa’s largest economy.
“Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort,” Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election. “In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do.”
The group has killed thousands in its push to carve out a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria.
Despite the killing of more than a dozen voters by Boko Haram gunmen – who had pledged to derail the poll – the election was one of the most orderly in Nigeria’s history.
Buhari won the election with 15.4 million votes to outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan’s 13.3 million, a margin wide enough to prevent any challenge.
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