INTERVIEW: OUR ECONOMY IS IN TARTARS AS THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF RECOVERY YET – ENGR. KACHALLA

In this interview with GBARAMATU VOICE in Abuja, Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla, a former Special Assistant, SA to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Borno State in the North East, a PDP candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial district in 2015. He spoke about the high level of insecurity in the country, provides insight in curtailing the menace, speaks on how the Boko Haram insurgency has been greatly tamed by the present administration and while also speaking on the economy and the general wellbeing of Nigerians, he stated that the economy is in tartars as there are no signs of its recovery.

GV: What is your take on the activities of Boko Haram so far?

Kachalla: The Boko Haram insurgency has been generally curtailed. In the past, they controlled 13 out of 27 local government Areas in Borno state. Today, not only do they not control any local government Area, they have been dislodged from their Sambisa forest base and stronghold .

GV: How do you see the Buhari led government tackling the upsurge of Boko Haram in the North East?

Kachalla: Increasingly, we notice Boko Haram engage in the deployment of suicide bombers, especially female children on soft targets. It is a cause of grave concern, but I think also it is a sign of desperation on their part, having lost their fighting force, capabilities and territorial control.

GV: Despite several claims from government alleging to have been technically defeated the insurgents, the group still wreck havoc on Nigerians, how would you describe such scenario?

Kachalla: The announcement by the government of the defeat of Boko Haram has proven to be premature. The pronouncement has elicited a wave of suicide bombings by Boko Haram, to prove to  the world that the last has not been heard of them. Yes Boko Haram’s capabilities have been largely diminished, but they have not been completely annihilated.

GV: With insecurity in almost every region in the Country, Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militants, Biafra, Fulani Herdsmen etc, what are your suggestions on the way forward in taming all these?

Kachalla: Every issue, be it militancy, insurgency, communal clashes etc has its peculiar circumstances. There is no one solution that applies to all. The circumstance of each must be carefully analyzed and smart, timely interventions that respect sensibilities of the actors be applied forthwith.

GV: What is your assessment in the present Government with particular regards to security, economy and the general living condition of the people?

Kachalla: On the security fronts, the results are encouraging even though more works needs to be done. As for the economy, the recession and the downward spiral of the naira in an import dependent economy such as ours  has created untold hardships. There are today more families that go to bed hungry across the entire country than there has ever been in the last 40 years. Unemployment and underemployment are at record high levels. Crime levels have skyrocketed; the propensity to violence has remarkably increased as poverty, deprivation and frustration has pushed most to ignition point. Overall, the economy is in tartars and there are no signs of recovery yet.