President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated that the Boko Haram sect cannot grind the operations of government to a halt or bring it to its knees.
This is even as he explained that he had to sack the National Security Adviser and Minister of Defence as a shift in strategy to match the shift in strategy of the Boko Haram sect.
The President also said the main aim of terrorists is to distract and cripple government and this must not be allowed to be.
He made this known during a presidential media chat which was broadcast live on National Television and anchored by Ohi Alegbe. It also had Edward Dickson, Editor of Tribune Newspaper; Maupe Ogun of Channels Television and Ishaq Moddibo Kawu of Blue Print Newspaper as panelists.
Explaining why he decided to embark on the trip to Brazil despite the spate of bombings in ?the country, Jonathan said: “I have no regrets in going to Brazil; the threat of Boko Haram is painful because I have lost people and properties. One of the tactics of terrorists is to cripple government. When they hear that the President did not travel because of bombings, they celebrate. When I travel, Presidents whose countries have had similar incidences comes to advise and encourage me, saying the government should not stop its operations because of this.”
“I was aware of the Kaduna bombings, but it is not the President that has to go there.?We also needed to make a case for Lake Chad. The day the international community gets to know that the Nigerian President couldn’t travel because of terror, then we are finished. Boko Haram will not stop government from moving. We are moving; they cannot bring us to our knees. It must come to an end, this country must move forward,” he said.
“Terrorists all over the world have one agenda; to destabilise government. If the way they are attacking churches doesn’t work they will change their tactics and start attacking mosques so that the Muslims will be forced to attack Christians. Whatever their motive or interest, it doesn’t apply to me but we are working and will stop it.”
He further disclosed that the government was ready to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect ?against the wishes of a lot of people, only if they have a face or let the government know the cause they are fighting for. He also hinted that there may be a possibility of granting amnesty to repentant members.?
“The Boko Haram are Nigerians. I will love a situation where the Boko Haram members will be trained to become beneficial citizens, we will dialogue with them but they have no face. For now, there is no negotiation going on,” Jonathan said.
Responding to allegations that security agencies were arresting the children and wives of Boko Haram members, he said: “Government is not arresting the children and women of the Boko Haram members. People use children for all sorts of things and if the child is of reasonable age, the child will be convicted but will not be kept in a prison. If women who are wives of Boko Haram members are arrested they are helping the security agencies with information and will be released after that.”?
In response to a question on if he carried out a sting operation on the chairman of the House Committee on Subsidy Probe, Farouk Lawan, he said it was not unusual for the President to be friends with top businessmen in the country as they drive the economy and therefore the government had to encourage them.
“I was not part of the sting operation, if at all there was any. Otedola is a top businessman. Top business people receive government support world over because they drive the economy. Even before Senate and House of Reps started the probe, the FG set up committees; one of them was headed by Ribadu and if I had something to hide I would not have chosen somebody like him. If I should send somebody like him to head the committee, it should tell you I don’t care about the outcome,” Jonathan said.
“If I want to do a sting operation why would I use Femi? We don’t even encourage our businessmen enough, I gave GCON to Dangote and they were abusing Jonathan; if he were a citizen of another country they will give a higher title.”
Responding to a question on his invitation by the House of Representatives, the President said the National Assembly, which is made up of two houses that include opposition, will naturally make noise, but that does to mean he has any problem with them.
This is even even as he disclosed that he had made up his mind to start addressing the nation via the National Assembly. He explained that in most advanced countries, the President goes to the parliament to address the nation, but he had so far done his from the state house.
Stating that it was not unusual to hear dissent in the parliament, the President also disclosed that he had not seen the resolution to attend.
Responding to a question on his attitude to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other bodies fighting corruption, Jonathan said though he had no previous relationship with Lamorde, he had faith in his precedence and in the fact that he can deliver.
“I am somebody that people say they find it difficult to understand me because I am calm. This has helped me to know that society is very complex. If you are a governor or in charge of parastatal you must be careful,” he said.
“I had no personal relationship with Lamorde, but people came and said he was good. More so he investigated me while I was a governor, so allow Lamorde to do his job.”
On why he had still not declared his assets, he argued that it was a matter of principle and people can only say what they want others to hear.
“I have nothing to hide… It is playing to the gallery to make it public. It is not the right thing to do. The law is clear; as a public officer, you declare, it is a matter of principle. Everybody holding a political office should do that. I said I won’t declare because I said if I will declare publicly then all political office holders will all have to do same. It is not the President declaring assets that will stop Boko Haram. They harassed me as a Vice President and I declared and they kept quiet. What is the difference since then?”
“I declared, as VP, long before I became acting President and President. What could I have acquired? They are playing politics with assets declaration.”
While responding to a question on his intention to contest in 2015, the President said it was too early to start considering that.?
“Allow us first to use two years plus in terms of wealth creation, providing jobs for youths. We can’t talk of 2015 now please. INEC has not opened the gate” he said.
