President
Goodluck Jonathan on Friday warned that his administration would no longer
tolerate wilful killing of security operatives in any part of the country.
Goodluck Jonathan on Friday warned that his administration would no longer
tolerate wilful killing of security operatives in any part of the country.
He also vowed not to withdraw soldiers attached to the Joint
Task Force deployed in troubled parts of the country until normalcy returns to
the affected areas.
Task Force deployed in troubled parts of the country until normalcy returns to
the affected areas.
Jonathan spoke at a town hall meeting in Maiduguri as he
concluded his working visit to Borno State, which has remained the centre of
activities of members of the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram, that have
been responsible for bombings in northern part of the country.
concluded his working visit to Borno State, which has remained the centre of
activities of members of the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram, that have
been responsible for bombings in northern part of the country.
The President said, “I cannot preside over this country as a
president and security officers are killed. These people leave their families;
they stay on the road and the bush so that we will sleep and I will not want to
hear that one of them is killed.”
president and security officers are killed. These people leave their families;
they stay on the road and the bush so that we will sleep and I will not want to
hear that one of them is killed.”
Jonathan took a swipe at some politicians in the state whom he
accused of playing to the gallery on the issue of insecurity in the state.
accused of playing to the gallery on the issue of insecurity in the state.
He said he was not comfortable with the submissions of some
elders, who felt that soldiers were no longer needed in the state.
elders, who felt that soldiers were no longer needed in the state.
He, however, expressed his readiness to order the soldiers back
to their barracks immediately only if the elders could sign an undertaking for
him.
to their barracks immediately only if the elders could sign an undertaking for
him.
He said, “In terms of the security situation, I will sincerely
plead with the people of Borno State that this is not the time to play to the
gallery, whether you are a politician or you are not.
plead with the people of Borno State that this is not the time to play to the
gallery, whether you are a politician or you are not.
“The state chairman of the PDP spoke, a member of the House of
Representatives spoke, the professor who is a former VC of University of
Maiduguri also spoke.
Representatives spoke, the professor who is a former VC of University of
Maiduguri also spoke.
“The way they spoke, I am not comfortable, I must be very frank.
Their conclusion was that there are too many bunkers in Borno State. Why did
the bunkers come? Who wants to send bunkers to Borno?
Their conclusion was that there are too many bunkers in Borno State. Why did
the bunkers come? Who wants to send bunkers to Borno?
“If the circumstances that brought the soldiers are no longer
there, that day, they will all leave.”
there, that day, they will all leave.”
Jonathan said he would not fold his arms while a group of people
hold any part of the country hostage.
hold any part of the country hostage.
He said it was disheartening for him to hear that in a part of
Borno State, children have not been able to go to school for one year because
of the security situation in the state.
Borno State, children have not been able to go to school for one year because
of the security situation in the state.
He said the information available to him showed that the
security situation in Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Niger states was
gradually improving while that of Borno remained disturbing.
security situation in Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Niger states was
gradually improving while that of Borno remained disturbing.
He said his government was careful on the issue of amnesty
because such exercise was sensitive.
because such exercise was sensitive.
He said it would diminish the integrity of the government if
amnesty was declared and innocent persons were killed again the following day.
amnesty was declared and innocent persons were killed again the following day.
Jonathan also criticised an unnamed professor, who he accused of
instigating the people against the immunisation of children against
poliomyelitis.
instigating the people against the immunisation of children against
poliomyelitis.
He said if it was possible, such a person’s professorship should
be withdrawn.
be withdrawn.
Earlier, some elders, including the former Vice-Chancellor of
the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Nura Alkali; the minister of Mines and Power
in the General Yakubu Gowon’s regime, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno; Chairman of
the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Mohammed
Monguno; and the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Baba
Basharu, had painted a picture of how hundreds of innocent citizens have been
killed in the cross-fire between JTF and Boko Haram members, rendering the
state full of orphans and widows.
the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Nura Alkali; the minister of Mines and Power
in the General Yakubu Gowon’s regime, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno; Chairman of
the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Mohammed
Monguno; and the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Baba
Basharu, had painted a picture of how hundreds of innocent citizens have been
killed in the cross-fire between JTF and Boko Haram members, rendering the
state full of orphans and widows.
Source: Punch
