Dear President Jonathan, Please Gracefully Absorb Your Merited 'F' Grade On Security, Economy etc.

President Jonathan

A quintessential fibre of a discerning leader or anybody who aspires to a leadership position is mastering the art of timing.

Obama, Jonathan, Others Meet On Security, Power

Security as well as regular power supply under “Power Africa” will top the agenda of the meetings that United States president Mr Barrack Obama will hold with President Goodluck Jonathan and other African leaders in Washington, DC, from today to Wednesday.

The White House will push initiatives like “Power Africa”, a privately funded plan to bring electricity to 20 million households across sub-Saharan Africa.
Six African countries have been selected for the project and Nigeria is first on the list. Companies have pledged $9 billion, and the White House is likely to announce more support at the summit meeting.

The four-day meeting which is tagged
“Investing in the Next Generation” will
include a civil society forum with
discussions on investments in health,
women, food security and power. There would be a high-octane conference to stimulate trade and investments.

According to Professor Adebowale
Adefuye, Nigeria’s ambassador to the
United States, President Jonathan and his counterparts will be brought in contact with American companies’ chief executives to discuss investment opportunities in Africa and conclude deals.

Adefuye added that other activities on
economy development were the
discussions on the issue of re-
authorization of AGOA, stressing that it was an American government system of preferential access to goods produced in Africa as a way of stimulating trade in the continent.

President Jonathan, who arrived in
Washington yesterday with his delegation,.is expected to meet congressional and business leaders as well as the media. He will address members of the Nigerian community and will be hosted to a reception by the two leading American business conglomerates, the US Chambers of Commerce and the Cooperate Council for Africa, after the meeting of African leaders with Obama.

The strategic importance of Nigeria
makes President Jonathan’s personal
attendance important. Nigeria is the
largest economy in Africa, America’s
largest trading partner and the country described by Vice President Joe Biden as America’s anchor in Africa. America is actively assisting Nigeria in coping with its current security challenges.

According to Ambassador Adefuye, the Embassy of Nigeria has been able to effectively counter negative perception about Nigeria on government’s reactions and activities to contain Boko Haram and end the kidnap of Chibok girls.
He noted that the key stakeholders in
business, politics, and think-tanks were now convinced that the government did all that it could to deal with Boko Haram and get the girls freed, adding that a series of well-coordinated actions to deal
with the menace of Boko Haram in
perpetuity was on.

According to the US national security
adviser, Ms Susan Rice, the meeting is intended to build a deeper relationship with Africa based on mutual interests and mutual respect. In each of the sessions, there will be some very straight talks, and give and take. Invitations were sent to 50 heads of state.

Also, American officials emphasized that it is not a meeting with the AU even though the chairperson of the AU is invited. This is the justification of the exclusion of some African countries with which America does not enjoy good relations for a variety of reasons.

Leadership Newspaper

Aftermath of Bomb Attack on Buhari: FG Ramps Up Security Cordon Around Former Leaders

Sequel to the bomb attack on former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, a massive security cordon has been reportedly thrown around former leaders irrespective of political
leanings.

Buhari escaped being killed in a bomb blast in Kaduna on Wednesday, hours after a hot verbal exchange between him and President Goodluck
Jonathan over the impeachment of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.

Jolted by the possibility of finger-pointing in an event of any eventuality, the Jonathan administration is said to have improved on the existing security around the former leaders, to avoid a repeat of the near-fatal attack on any of the living former leaders.

A couple of the former leaders, especially those of Northern extraction had issues with the president, with Buhari, his defeated challenger in 2011 presidential election, being his most strident critic. Buhari is also the president’s projected challenger in 2015 election.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also has political differences with Jonathan.
Apart from the normal security in place for them, more soldiers and men of the State Security Service, it was learnt, are to be added to the former leaders’ retinue of security details.

An aide to the president who is currently abroad told Saturday Tribune by phone that the former leaders had always been given a full complement of security details, adding that he was not on ground to confirm if an addition had been made to their security arrangement.
The aide, however, noted that the Kaduna blast was beyond the quantum of security arrangement around the former leaders, adding that the real story behind the blast would soon be known as investigation progresses.

A security source said the move was being handled as surreptitiously as possible to avoid any possible compromise since it has become
difficult to trust even close associates of the said former leaders.

Spokesperson of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he had no comment when contacted.
He said it was a security issue that should not necessarily be discussed.

Tribune

President Jonathan Seeks $1 Billion Loan to Fight Boko Haram

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan requested permission from parliament to borrow $1 billion to help equip the armed forces in its fight against the Islamist-insurgent group Boko Haram.

“I would like to bring to your attention the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our armed forces and security services to enable them to more forcefully confront this serious threat,” Jonathan said in a letter dated July 15 and read out today in the capital, Abuja, by Senate President David Mark. The $1 billion may be sourced from other governments, said
Jonathan.

Though $6 billion was allocated to defense and security this year’s budget, Nigeria ’s government is struggling to curtail a five-year-old insurgency by Boko Haram militants, who are seeking to impose Islamic law on Africa ’s biggest economy and most populous nation of about 170 million people.

Courtesy:
Bloomberg

Terror Attacks Timed to Frustrate Jonathan's Administration — FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that there is a disturbing nexus between major terror attacks in the country and the development landmarks of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

A pattern, the government said, has emerged whereby almost always when there is need to collectively celebrate an important landmark recorded by it, appears to be the time when the insurgents find pleasure in attacking and making their statement of terror.
Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, made this claim in Lagos during an interview.
Maku lamented that what had been happening in the past two years was that terrorism had taken the front pages and deprived the country of news of development and social issues.
He said it was becoming very disturbing that “anytime the current administration had cause to celebrate an achievement, bombs explode to distract  Nigerians and portray the government in bad light.
“I can tell you”, he continued, “that almost every milestone recorded by this government is accompanied by bomb blasts,” pointing at the World Economic Forum which was preceded by bomb attacks in Abuja, and the widely acclaimed Ekiti State governorship election victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,” as examples.
The Minister said “immediately we announced the re-basing of our economy and it was now confirmed that Nigeria was the largest economy in Africa, there were bombs at Chibok.

Immediately they learnt we were going to hold the World Economic Forum, WEF, there were bombs in Abuja and its environs to make sure that Nigeria does not get the economic benefits of hosting the World Economic Forum and to discourage the world from coming here so as to make the attack the center point of international and local media…
“We also noticed that immediately after our victory in Ekiti, the bombs started raining again.”
He then concluded that, “there is a correlation between the exposure of development efforts in the media and the  insecurity in the northern part of the country.

Labaran Maku
“That is why most times I have continued to insist that the media should have a change of strategy , I wouldn’t say change of attitude. Because, as you know, with terrorism, once its takes hold, it takes very long for it to be dealt with. Because the terrorists themselves are looking for the opportunity to be exposed, to sell their ideology,  to use the media to frighten the society, to give themselves some invincible image, so they keep doing those strikes mainly because they want those headlines to be celebrated, they want the society to be afraid,” he said.
He again lamented that terrorism has exploited the liberal tendencies of democracy and  free press  to sell its own ideology to the world, and “I believe frankly that the media should, side by side, while reporting incidence of terror attacks, where they unfortunately occur, focus on development and deepening of our democracy. That is the only way we can defeat them.”

Courtesy:
Vanguard Newspaper

Boko Haram: Generals Are Deceiving President Jonathan With "Sexed-up Picture of Military Victories“

A senior military officer has claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan is being deceived by the high command on the true state of the anti-terror war in north-eastern Nigeria.

The officer, who cannot be named because of possible victimisation, said the day the president gets to know the true facts on ground, the country will begin to win the war against the Boko Haram insurgents.
For instance, he said contrary to last week’s claims by the defence headquarters that five soldiers were killed while repelling a Boko Haram attack in Damboa, Borno State, “we
lost far more than that number to the
militants”.

He warned that grossly downplaying
casualty figures and feeding the president with a “sexed-up” picture of military victories “can only give us false hope when we direly need to re-strategise to crush the insurgency”.
On Saturday, the military issued a statement saying its men killed “more than 50” terrorists while repelling a “daring attack” on military formations, and that five soldiers and a senior officer were killed by the insurgents. It did not give figures of the wounded.
But according to the officer who spoke with TheCable on Monday, all these claims were devised by the military high command to paint a false impression of a terrorism war that the military “is nowhere near winning as evident in the ease and frequency with which the terrorists launch attacks on soldiers and civilians”.
“If all these announcements from Abuja are true, we wouldn’t be losing men on this scale so often,” he said.
He warned that for the military to defeat Boko Haram, the first step is for the presidency and the public to be made to understand the truth about casualties on both sides, so that the right measures can be taken to bolster the capabilities of the military.
“How many terrorists did they tell you that they killed in Damboa? You see, as I speak right now, the soldiers are scattered in the bush. The insurgents dislodged their brigade because Lt-Colonel Abubakar Shumba, who was their commander, got killed.

“The soldiers who were killed belonged to Unit 195, and those who escaped have not even gone back because many soldiers were lost. Those who said five soldiers died are not telling the truth. They just want to deceive the public. They don’t want people to know the facts.
“It is hard to say the exact number of
people that died because the soldiers have not gone back to the location. As we speak, there are still a number of corpses there. Since that attack, they have not gone back. But if we calculate the number of those that died, I’m sure it’s close to 40.”
He further revealed that the soldiers are now in dire need of motivation because they are still smarting from the loss of their colleagues.
“Just now, they took about eight dead
bodies to Mamalade, 7B headquarters. The remaining ones are still in the bush. The soldiers have not even gone back to the location. But they have a new commander.
His name is Colonel Oserere,” he said.
Director of defence information, Major- General Chris Olukolade, denied that the military gave false figures on the gun battle.

“Naturally, we should be bothered about what happens to our troops and we are. We are really concerned. Let it not be said that we are giving you different figures,” Olukolade told TheCable.
“The figure we gave you is what we have and if people gave you different figures because they want to rejoice, because they are happy to hear that Nigerian soldiers have been killed, whatever they are… But I have given you the official figures that I have about that incident. As for the wounded, I don’t have the actual figure for the wounded.”

Courtesy:
The Cable

President Jonathan Cuts Short Foreign Visit Sequel to Abuja Bomb Blast

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short a trip to Equatorial Guinea following Wednesday's bomb attack in the capital, Abuja, his spokesman has said.

Security has been tightened in the city following the blast which killed 21 people and wounded 52 others.

Mr Jonathan's decision to return follows strong criticism that he is not doing enough to curb violence.

Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has stepped up attacks in Nigeria.

In April, it killed more than 70 people in a bomb blast at a bus stop on the outskirts of Abuja.

The group also said it was behind a car bomb attack near a bus station in the city's Nyanya suburb in May, which killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others.

It has not commented on the latest explosion, which ripped though a busy shopping district.

Police say a suspect has been arrested, but have not released details about him.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said Mr Jonathan received news of the blast as he was arriving at his hotel in Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo, for an African Union (AU) summit, Nigeria's privately owned Premium Times newspaper reports.

He decided to fly back to Abuja to deal with the crisis, Mr Abati said.

The BBC's Mansur Liman in the capital says the security forces have cordoned off the area around the blast.

Police have ordered an increase in security and surveillance operations in and around Abuja to prevent further attacks, he says.

Mr Jonathan's decision to return appears to be an attempt to address a growing public perception that he is not concerned about the plight of victims, our correspondent adds.

BBC

#BringBackOurGirls: Gordon Brown, President Jonathan Meet As Nigerian Government Flags Off 'Safe School Initiative'

The Nigerian government’s 'Safe School Initiative' has received a boost of N3.2 billion.

The sum is made of two parts of N1.6 billion released by the federal government and another N1.6 billion donated by the private sector.

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made the disclosure on Tuesday after a meeting of stakeholders of the initiative with President Jonathan in Abuja.

The Safe School Initiative is expected to accommodate children displaced from their schools due to the present insurgency rocking the country. The over 200 girls who were kidnapped in Chibok two months ago are to benefit from these funds.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “We are intent on trying to make sure that our children in the states have an environment in which they can come back to school and not have their education truncated.”

Special Envoy to the UN Secretary General for Global Education, Gordon Brown said the reconstruction of the secondary school in Chibok is paramount to the United Nations.

“I am here to say that we wish as an international community to do everything we can to back up the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of the states to make sure these girls are returned to their families and at the same time to make sure, that every parent feels that they can send their children to school knowing that they will be safe in the future.”

Yobe and Borno governors said they are committed to making the initiative a huge success.

Ibrahim Geidam, Yobe state governor, said, “I promise to give him all the necessary cooperation to ensure that the programme succeeds.”

Kashim Shettima, Borno state governor, said, “Times like this calls for sobriety, for maturity, for unity of purpose. At the appropriate time we are going to play politics, but this is not time to play politics with the lives of the people.”

The federal government and the international community are bent on encouraging displaced students back to school.

Africa Independent Television

Back-door Talk To Free Abducted Chibok Girls Suffers Setback Due To FG's Intransigence, Mutual Mistrust

The  Federal Government’s back-door talks to rescue the 217 abducted Chibok girls still in Boko Haram’s custody, may have suffered a setback.

The government is demanding an unconditional release of the girls, promising to fulfill the demands of Boko Haram leaders after.
But the facilitators of the talks are seeking a truce which will result in the simultaneous swapping of the girls with some insurgents in detention.
The facilitators/mediators, some of whom are clerics and Northern leaders, are afraid of the consequences of the government reneging on any “deal”.
They think that they may be exposed to danger.

Also yesterday, it was gathered that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is yet to get a Presidential go-ahead for talks with Boko Haram contacts.
President Goodluck Jonathan only gave a verbal approval to him.
Obasanjo wanted a situation where he would sit down with the President and get a firm commitment on offers from the government to the insurgents.

The ex-President may, however, wait for a while because the government was uncomfortable with his comments that the President did not believe the girls were abducted in the first place.
The rescue bid for the girls has been slowed down by some unresolved issues.
It was gathered that there was a major challenge on: agreeing on terms for the release of the girls; and establishing trust that each party will keep to the bargain.
Two sources, who spoke in confidence on the negotiation, the resolution of the two issues is crucial to freedom for the girls.
One of the sources said: “We seem to have a little setback. I think the fear of people who are negotiating is whether the government will honour its own part of the talks.

“The government is demanding unconditional release of the girls whereas the negotiators are seeking simultaneous swapping of some insurgents with the girls.
“The government is saying the insurgents should release the girls and it will unfold its package. There is also a suspicion in government that the insurgents may not live up to their pledge.
“Some of these clerics and Northern leaders are scared that they might be endangered if the government does not make concrete offers to the insurgents.
“The facilitators want to collect the girls and hand over the insurgents at the same time.”
Asked of the attitude of the insurgents, the source, who is believed to be respected by Boko Haram leadership, said: “They have been listening to some of their contacts out of sheer mutual respect but if the government does not act, they do not mind keeping the girls for five years.
“They are prepared to keep the girls. If there are terms acceptable to both parties and firm commitment, anybody can secure the release of the girls.”

Another source said the Federal Government does not have much confidence in Obasanjo’s initiative.
The source said the government would prefer a collective intervention by past Heads of State, as floated last Thursday by President Goodluck Jonathan, than Obasanjo’s singular plan.
It was gathered that Obasanjo’s comments, which alleged that the President did not believe that the girls were abducted made the Presidency to be “cautious” on his initiative.
The source added: “I think there is a problem between Obasanjo and the President. When the two leaders met at the burial of ex-Governor Michael Otedola, Obasanjo told Jonathan what he intended doing and the President said it was a good idea.
“They both agreed to discuss the details later, if Obasanjo is really going into it. The President gave some security insights into the abduction, including the alleged involvement of some people opposed to his administration and some foreign elements.
“But it was shocking to the government when Obasanjo came out and said Jonathan doubted the abduction of the girls. The comments angered the President and some forces in government.

“This is why the President and Obasanjo have not sat down to discuss the modalities of the latter’s initiative. Sensing this, Obasanjo was also absent at last Thursday’s parley on the Chibok girls with past leaders.
“By declaring that not all the girls can return home safely, Obasanjo is not only divulging security matter, he is also doubting his own mission. Do you expect the government to have faith in his initiative?”

It was gathered that Obasanjo refused to resume talks with Boko Haram contacts because he was yet to secure a firm commitment from the President that whatever terms agreed upon would be accepted by the Federal Government.

A third source added: “Obasanjo said he won’t move an inch forward on the talks with Boko Haram again until he gets the consent and commitment on whatever is arrived at from the Federal Government.
“Baba said he cannot act on newspapers reports on the government’s commitment. He does not want to discuss with the insurgents and fail to meet their terms.”

The Nation Newspaper

Al-Shabab Attack on Somali Parliament; Lessons For Nigeria, Please Stop The Buck-Passing, Take Responsibility and 'Step Aside'

Written By Don Okereke

Date: Saturday, 24th May 2014; Incident: Al-Shabab launched a kamikaze attack on Somali Parliament Building while scores of politicians were meeting killing at least 17 people; Consequence: Somalia's National Security Minister, Abdikarim Guled threw in the towel aftermath of the daring assault by Al-Shabaab fighters. Tendering his resignation, Mr. Guled said: "You are aware of the cowardly attack that the violent elements carried out on the Parliament. I extend my condolences to the families of the diseased...considering the current situation of the country, I officially hereby announce my resignation".

In South Korea, erstwhile Prime Minister Chung Hong-Won apologized to South Koreans on National Television and subsequently resigned due to a Ferry mishap that claimed the life of about 200 South Koreans. For sure the Prime minister is not directly responsible for the mishap but he took responsibility. In his resignation, Mr. Chung said: "I should take responsibility for everything as the prime minister... So I will resign as prime minister". And he did. If Mr. Chung were to be a Nigerian, some jesters from his clan, his in laws and those benefiting from the status quo will take to the street, threatening fire and brimstone why he must continue in office. What a country!

In India, the then Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and the National Security Adviser, M.K Narayanan both tendered their resignation in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Juxtapose the aforementioned random case studies with the wanton insecurity, terrorism, insurgency miasma in Nigeria that has become an international embarrassment, yet those directly responsible for Nigeria's security are clinching to their  lordly positions at all cost and without shame.

It took three weeks of global media frenzy and outrage for the Nigerian government to even come to terms and acknowledge that nearly 300 Chibok School girls were abducted by Boko Haram. Then they started running helter skelter, bandying alibi's, blaming everyone else but themselves. As if this faux pas is not enough, the Presidency reportedly issued a statement asking #BringBackOurGirls protesters to channel their protests to Boko Haram and not to the Presidency. May I with utmost sense of responsibility remind the Presidency that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of life and properties.
Aso Rock should be aware that the buck stops at the table of whosoever is the current President and Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigerians did not vote for Boko Haram, but for the President and gave him the mandate and the power to do all that is necessary to guarantee the safety of life and properties.

The President have a potpourri of Security and Intelligence agencies at his disposal to contain this ugly situation stifling the country. It is unbecoming off-loading his frustrations on  disenchanted innocent Nigerians whose only sin is daring to remind his government to sit up. If anything, he should blame, hold his security echelon responsible for their ineptitude and failure to maintain the peace.

A botched Immigration Service recruitment exercise by Nigeria's Ministry of Interior snuffed life out of 20 promising Nigerian youths. It took a lot of heckling before the Minister of Interior tendered a half-hearted apology, yet he clinched to his plumb job. Till date the Minister refused to reimburse applicants of this ill-fated exercise, the N1,000 they paid as application fee. A committee was assembled to look into the matter and that was it.

Sequel to a paper-tiger "rebasing" of the nation's economy, we are told Nigeria is now the "biggest" economy in Africa. The government of the day ascribed with pageantry, this titular achievement as part of their "transformation agenda". They bask in taking credit for good things even though they may have no hand in it, but play the ostrich, blaming phantom enemies when something sinister happens and for wanting to bring down the government.

A very conservative Amnesty International estimate says the Boko Haram menace may have snuffed life out of 1,500 innocent Nigerians. In a country where we have a National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, I.G of Police, D.G of State Security Service, D.G of National Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, etc, etc, none deems it fit to take responsibility for the current state of insecurity in Nigeria.

Two months after the Chibok school girls were abducted by Boko Haram, discordant opinions emanating from the seat of government is neither inspiring nor encouraging. All we hear every day is finger-pointing, buck-passing, a penchant for policy summersault and doublespeak. One of them bandies a "soft approach", another tells us the government is negotiating, yet another refutes the preceding assertion. A spin doctor issues a trite press release assuring Nigerians 'the government is on top of the situation'. A wishy-washy committee is swiftly assembled, monetary allocations (a piece of the national cake) is doled out to the geezers, the issue peters out and it is business as usual again. Off they globetrot on their chartered/private jets.

Whilst #OgasAtTheTop in Nigeria carouse, ensconce themselves in their multi-billion naira fortified fortresses, travel on their armoured plated SUV's, poor Nigerians are the pawns in the ongoing brinkmanship, chess game they play.

Just recently, President Barrack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, yet Aso Rock spin doctors are busy bandying hogwash alibi's aimed at exonerating the immense insensitiveness and the inability of the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to visit Chibok, a section of the country he governs. If not for any other reason, such a visit will improve the battered image of the President as well as bring some succour and encouragement to families of the abducted girls and also boost the morale of our soldiers fighting the insurgents. Take a cue from the Americans, such a visit does not have to be announced, it's called a "surprise visit".

Our security agencies must do more work and less talk (propaganda). Are they not endangering the lives of the abducted Chibok girls by insinuating they have discovered where the girls are held up? Until Osama Bin Laden was killed, American security, intelligence agencies, particularly the Navy SEAL Team 6 that carried out the operation refrained from unguarded utterances.

Now we don't need to travel to Europe, the United States or South Korea for global best practices. Folks at the helm of affairs in Nigeria should take a cue from Somalia's National Security Minister.

Is it not a shame that a so-called rag-tag Sect is not just holding plus or minus 300 Chibok girls and now women hostage but the entire country of 160 million people comprising Generals, world-acclaimed high-flying Spiritual/religious juggernauts? How many more innocent Nigerians will be abducted, hacked to death by these bloodletting goons before geezers at the echelon of leadership take responsibility?

Please take responsibility, walk the talk or 'step aside' if you are bereft of ideas or your wishy-washy idea is not fit for purpose.

Don Okereke
Ex-Serviceman, Passionate, Versatile Security Analyst/Consultant, Writer/Blogger, Change Agent, Advocate.

www.donokereke.blogspot.com
donnuait(a)yahoo.com

My Life Under Threat Over Sanusi, Says Kwankwaso

Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said yesterday that his life is under threat. President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible, if anything happens to him and his family, he told reporters in Abuja.

He also said the President would be accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Kano State over the choice of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir.
Kwankwaso said All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders did not dictate to him who to appoint, adding that Sanusi’s choice was final.
Kwankwaso said contrary to the Presidency’s posture, Sanusi’s choice was popular.

“I want to say that I think they are playing a lot of games. We don’t know their intention; we don’t know what they are going to do next,” the governor said, adding: “But I have to say, like all other people in this country, everybody is concerned about the insecurity. On the other hand, our lives are in the hands of Almighty God.

But the bottom line is we have seen a signal or a sign that there is a level of mischief coming from other places. And I want to put it on record that whatever happens to me, my family and my state, Jonathan should be held responsible.

“We have enough crises in this country and when Kano boils it would be a big problem for this country. He should thank us for working with the security agencies to ensure peace.
“But now we are seeing an attempt by them to induce crises because of Sanusi, our choice and because we have done our duty as stipulated in the law. And as I told the six contenders, I wish I had more than one slot to give but in this case, there is only one slot that had to be filled and that is it. It is not the duty of the PDP or the Presidency to approve such appointment and if there is the post of the Emir of Nigeria, let them appoint that one and leave us alone.”

For more:
The Nation

Reuben Abati Denies Jonathan's Purported Amnesty Offer to Boko Haram

A sharp disagreement and confusion emerged on Saturday over the offer of amnesty by the Federal Government to members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna had on Thursday during a programme to mark the nation’s Democracy Day titled ‘A day with young leaders of Nigeria.’ announced that the President had offered amnesty to the insurgents in his determination to bring the ongoing violent attacks to an end.

President Jonathan, who spoke at the occasion after Boni Haruna made the comment, did not make any reference to the Minister’s remarks.

Haruna, at the function said: “President Goodluck Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace.”

“Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme,” he stated

But speaking with State House correspondents on Saturday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati maintained that the President did not offer amnesty to members of the sect.

Stressing that he would not say anything about the ‘amnesty’ announcement, he said that he would rather refer Nigerians to the Democracy Day nationwide broadcast by the President where he never used the term “amnesty.”

He said: “Let me refer you to the speech by the President. If you read the speech line by line, you will see that it contains the very message that the President wanted to put across and in that speech if you look at it I don’t think the President used amnesty, instead he spoke about those who are willing to renounce terrorism, those who are willing to embrace, opportunities have been created for them through the fact-finding committee, through the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolutions of Conflict in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.”

“So I will refer you basically to the speech by the President,” Abati stated.

On the murder of the Emir of Gwoza on Friday, he said: “The President got the news and he was sad about it because what it means is that  these terrorists who are threatening peace and stability in Nigeria, are desperate and they continue to show that desperation.”

“But as the President made it clear in his democracy day broadcast, that was his main message to Nigerians, that at the end of the day it is the people of Nigeria that will prevail, no matter how desperate terrorists may be and that his government is determined to rid the country of terrorism.

“And the support solidarity the cooperation, the expression of partnership that we are receiving from our neighboring countries, the whole of the West African sub-region, Africa and the entire world shows that this is the battle that the whole world is prepared to fight. So the days of peace as the President said in his speech is assured because this battle will not end until it is won and sustainable development is fully guaranteed,” he said.

Source:
The Nation Newspaper

US Secretary of State, Kerry Says an 'All Out Assault' to Rescue Chibok Schoolgirls ‘Very Risky’

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned that a Nigerian offensive to go after Boko Haram and attempt to free 219 kidnapped schoolgirls “could be very risky.”

John Kerry, in an interview with PBS NewsHour’s Gwen Ifill, was responding to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s vow to free the abducted students by ordering a “full scale-operation” against Boko Haram Thursday.

“I think an all-out assault — I’m not sure what that means; I’d want to know what that means — it could be very risky to the young women. And there may be a time and place for that but we need to look at this very closely,” said Kerry during the interview at the State Department.

Kerry said he hope to be speaking with Jonathan some time “over the course of today or tomorrow” and said he was not aware of any requests for the U.S. to participate in any such operation.

Source:
PBS Newshour

Once again, Jonathan Dangles Amnesty to Boko Haram Members

To end insurgency in  the country, the  Federal Government has indicated  its willingness to grant amnesty for members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna while speaking on youth’s position in the present administration’s transformation agenda during a programme to mark the nation’s Democracy Day titled ‘A day with young leaders of Nigeria.’

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan has given approval for the amnesty to be given as soon as the sect lay down their arms.

Stressing that series of programmes are in the pipeline for members of the sect, he called on them to embrace government’s gesture.

He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace.”

“Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into the amnesty programme.” He added

On the youth restiveness in the Niger Delta, the Minister said that the government introduced a development programme which gave the youth an opportunity to have a meaningful life.

According to him, over 30,000 youths have benefited from the amnesty programme which he recalled was a result of a bitter national security experience.

Noting that the effect of the amnesty has been great, he said that beneficiaries have transformed from militants to wealth creators, employers of labour and skilled citizens.

During interactive session with the youths on Thursday, President Jonathan said that terrorism cannot succeed in any community without support from the local people.

Calling on those who are respected by the insurgents to join hands with the government in order to encourage them to lay down their arms, the President said that military alone cannot stop terrorism.

He said: “Terror succeeds with local support. It will be difficult for terror to thrive where people reject it. It is a major challenge to all of us.”

“Military alone cannot stop terror or any radicalism. Terrorists have people they respect, they have community, traditional and opinion leaders they respect. All of us can deradicalise them.

“We will through persuasive activities encourage people to shun violence,” he added

As part of efforts to ensure youths are reorientated and not misled, he said that his government is already working out modalities to reintroducing moral education in schools.

Source:
The Nation

President Jonathan Orders Operation to Put an End to The Impunity of Terrorists

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to wage a "total war" against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
Speaking on the the 15th anniversary of the end of military rule, he said "international terrorism" threatened Nigeria's democratic gains.

'Hard-earned lessons'
"With the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists," Mr Jonathan said, in a televised speech to mark Democracy Day.
He added that he was determined to protect Nigeria's democracy.
"I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil," he said.

Source:
BBC

President Jonathan Cancels Planned Visit To Chibok

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has cancelled his first visit to the village from which more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Islamist rebel group Boko Haram a month ago due to security fears, senior government sources said on Friday.

Jonathan will instead fly directly from the capital Abuja to Paris on Friday for a regional summit to discuss the Boko Haram insurgency and wider insecurity and will not now make a stop in the northeastern village of Chibok, said one of the sources.

"The president was planning to go but security advised otherwise on the visit," said the source of the last-minute decision to cancel the Chibok part of the trip.

Some Nigerians have criticized the government's initial response to the plight of the girls, who were abducted on April 14, and U.S. officials this week said the government had done too little to adapt to the threat posed by Boko Haram.

Jonathan asked France last week to arrange a security summit with neighbors Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, and officials from the United States, Britain and the European Union to discuss a coordinated response. The summit will take place on Saturday.

Source:
Reuters

President Jonathan Set To Visit Chibok

Barely one month after more than 200 Chibok school girls were abducted by the Boko Haram, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan will this Friday, 16/05/2014, visit the north-eastern town of Chibok in Bornu State.

Nothing was seen of the girls for almost a month after they were taken from Chibok by Boko Haram militants. But on Monday the group released a video showing more than 100 of them and offering an exchange for prisoners.
The president has come under pressure over his government's failure to rescue the girls, but has ruled out a swap.
On Thursday, relatives of the girls called for their unconditional release.
But the UK's Africa Minister Mark Simmonds said Mr Jonathan had "made it very clear that there will be no negotiation" at a meeting on Wednesday.
A video emerged on Monday showing about 130 of the girls wearing hijabs and reciting Koranic verses.

After visiting Chibok, President Jonathan will continue to Paris to take part in a summit convened by French President Francois Hollande to discuss Boko Haram.
The presidents of Nigeria's neighbours - Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad - are scheduled to attend the summit on Saturday, which will also include representatives from the UK, US and EU.
A statement said delegates at the meeting will "discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in west and Central Africa".

'Troubling atrocities'
Meanwhile, US officials on Thursday criticised the speed of Nigeria's response to the threat from Boko Haram.
Alice Friend, director for African affairs at the US defence department, said its security forces had been "slow to adapt with new strategies and new tactics".
She also said the US was unable to offer aid to Nigeria's military because of "troubling" atrocities perpetrated by some units during operations against Boko Haram.
"We cannot ignore that Nigeria can be an extremely challenging partner to work with," Ms Friend said.

BBC