FOR the first time in over 30 years, the Nigerian armed forces are being called upon to defend their fatherland against foreign invaders. They are also expected to fight and keep the nation from dismemberment. I salute our men and women in uniform for their patriotism, valour and gallantry. I am really proud of their service and sacrifice to our country. Until the president announced a state of emergency and ordered massive troop deployment to north-eastern corner, a lot of Nigerians, especially those in the southern half of the country, did not have a good sense of the magnitude of the problem. Many Nigerians were shocked to learn from Dr. Jonathan’s announcement that the terrorists had over time occupied some parts of Borno and Yobe states, replaced Nigerian flags with theirs and burnt down several government buildings. The handshake has surely extended beyond the elbow. Clearly, the invaders were becoming more daring by the day, encouraged largely by the pliancy of the population and the manipulative intrigues of the northern elites.

In nearby Nasarawa State, hundreds of policemen and secret service officials were massacred by a cult group. I commend the commander-in-chief for taking extra-ordinary steps to protect lives and property. The nation is now at war against foreign invaders, terrorists and armed bandits. Nigerians have been quite upbeat about the president’s bold respond and reports that the enemy is already on the run.

In 1982, General Muhammadu Buhari led a brigade of troops to repel marauding Chadian troops from that same north-eastern corner. Apparently escaping a raging civil war in their country, the Chadians had invaded Nigerian villages at night, stealing and raping. It was the first major foreign invasion that the country has ever witnessed, so frightening that President Shehu Shagari, who was out of the country, had to cut short his trip to attend to the ensuing diplomatic row as Buhari’s forces had gone far in too much into the Chadian territory. The civil war was however a much bigger crisis to the nation’s young politico-military leaders and the armed forces. But they prevailed. Since then, our troops have been focusing on participating in many UN peacekeeping operations in the sub region and far-flung places. Again, they have been conducting themselves well and have won laurels. It is the nation’s pride that the Nigerian Army saved Liberia and Sierra Leone from disintegration. Our troops rescued Mali from another set of terrorists and helped out in Sudan, Congo, Burma and many others. But what we are facing now is a different kind of war. It is a lot more difficult to fight against terrorists than to wage a conventional war.

As a nation at war, we have a duty to ensure that our troops succeed. First, the military high commands and their political bosses in Abuja must make certain that the fighting forces are well resourced. Their weapons, protective gears, vehicles, food, allowances and other material comfort should be in good and timely supply. The Chief of Defence Staff must be on top of this and the president must not, for a moment, take his eye off the ball. There would be a major uproar if there is any report that the troops are not well taken care of. He must keep the key segments of the country regularly updated and the nation ought to be briefed on the progress of the war at least once a month. The military leaders should also implement morale-boosting activities for the troops. This includes surprise visits from the c-in-c, other eminent and respected leaders and even our movie stars. I expect the president to make his Democracy Day (May 29) broadcast from the frontline in Yobe, surrounded by our soldiers. At churches and other places of worship, we must remember our men and women in uniform. At family altars, Nigerians should pray for the success of our soldiers. Political leaders should reflect the mood of the nation in their conduct. They cannot be indulging in ostentations, flamboyance and wastages while the citizens face misery.

Also, our political leaders must now comport themselves. There is a particularly large tribe of contumacious and irascible politicians who take delight in inflaming passions. They have to keep their partisanship aside and rally behind the president and our troops to defeat the common enemy. At this moment, we are all Nigerians! General Buhari, Nasir el Rufai, Junaid Mohammed, Lai Mohammed, Balarabe Musa, Tunde Bakare, Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo, Bola Tinubu, Ango Abdullahi and all other rambunctious headline grabbers should tone down their rhetoric and support our troops. This is not the time to grandstand for 2015; debate zoning or fight over appointments. In the height of the U.S. presidential election campaigns in 2004, Osama Bin Ladin issued a threat to harm that country. It was just three years after the unprecedented 9/11 attacks, so the country was on the edge when the Al-Qaeda spoke. Immediately, Senator John Kerry, the Democratic challenger (he is now the Secretary of State), momentarily suspended his campaign tour and spoke in a very clear and strong terms against Bin Ladin. “We are all Americans, irrespective of our political differences, and I do hereby condemn any further threat to our homeland”, he said. I expect Buhari, himself a war-tested General, to show statesmanship and leadership and visit our troops in the frontline as a mark of encouragement. By so doing he will endear himself to Nigerians a lot more than trying to score political points by attacking the president now. General Buhari cannot be campaigning for election when his Daura village is bombarded. He cannot afford to throw barbs when Nasarawa, the only state governed by his party, CPC, is a hotbed of dangerous cultists. Does he love Aso Rock more than his kith and kin?

Some insurgents have been killed and captured, while others have run away into the forests, and perhaps across into the neighbouring countries of Cameroun and Chad. They may regroup and resurface in another vulnerable village or town. Whatever the case, I urge the president to soldier on. As a wartime leader, fearlessness, courage and determination will be his major weapons. Americans recovered quickly after 9/11 and wrestled terrorists to the ground. Decapitated, their offspring are still causing problems. The British have trampled upon these criminals and have succeeded in infiltrating their ranks. Israel, a tiny nation in a hostile neighbourhood, has prevailed against all odds. With strength of character and support from our allies and friends, Nigeria will win this war. May the God Almighty bless our nation and protect our troops and leaders.

• Etim is a banker and journalist.