Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Mike Onolememen has refuted allegations by Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the Federal Government purchased military hardware worth N2 billion for the purpose of suppressing militants in the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The minister stated that in line with the Federal Government reforms, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration is equipping the Armed Forces to be the best in the world.
Onolememen who made this clarification at the Defense Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), factory in Kaduna yesterday described the Vice President�s claim as �false and a figment of his imagination�.
The minister accused the Vice President of engaging in smear campaign against President Obasanjo and disclosed that the Federal Government had plans to reinforce the strength of the Nigerian troops participating in peacekeeping operations in the war-torn Darfur, Sudan .
Onolememen emphasized that such purchase of arms were part of the normal and routine military procurement and should therefore not be misconstrued or used to score cheap political point by anyone.
�Niger Deltans are Nigerians and so the government cannot fight them, the Federal Government was equipping the nation�s Armed Forces and investing more in the production of its weapons and armament,� Onolememen stated.
He said recent developments at DICON would please Obasanjo who during his last visit expressed dissatisfaction with the obsolete equipment at corporation, saying that the government was satisfied with the in-house refurbishment of the equipment at the defence factory to about 70 per cent level. This the minister said has made him proud to be a Nigerian.
On the Nigerian troops on peacekeeping operations in
Darfur , Onolememen said the Federal Government was looking at the possibility of reinforcing its forces taking part in the efforts aimed at restoring peace to the troubled region. He stressed that Nigeria would not relent in her efforts to ensure a peaceful African continent and would continue to support any initiative that would restore peace in war-torn countries.
Feb82007