Speaking on a nationwide radio/television programme Presidential media chat, which was monitored by NigerianEYE, President Jonathan revealed that just like majority of Nigerians who are puzzled by the validity of the death of Boko Haram leader, Shekau, as president, he does not know whether he is dead or alive.
BOKO HARAM
In his words, 'I do not know whether he is dead or alive I don’t want to speculate', Jonathan said in response to a question on whether Boko Haram leader, Shekau, is dead
President Goodluck Jonathan also said the activities of the Boko Haram sect which has devastated especially the north eastern part of the country is not because of him but is part of international global terrorist network.
Speaking on a nationwide radio/television programme Presidential media chat, President Jonathan also insisted that the House in Apo where some persons were killed by security forces had elements of Boko Haram adding that though innocent persons may have died in the exchange between security forces and the terrorists, it does not mean that innocent persons were deliberately targeted
“Boko Haram has been there even before I became the president. When the bombed the United |Nations and the barrack in Abuja, we did not have the capacity to tackle them.
People talk about Boko Haram as if Jonathan is the cause of Boko Haram. Yet it has been there and it was even in 2009 that Yusuf (Boko Haram Leader) was killed.
But with time, we have built the capacity of the security services and we have made tremendous progress. I am not God so I cannot be everywhere.
What I can promise Nigerians is that within the limit of our ability, we will ensure that we will try our best to ensure that we check the activities of these people and put an end to their activities” he said.
He said though the security services are doing their best to check the activities of the Boko Haram sect, the terrorists are always evolving ways in collaboration with international terrorist organizations to undermine the activities of the security agencies.
Speaking on the recent killings in Apo, President Jonathan said ‘though innocent persons may have died, there were confessions from arrested Boko Haram operatives that there were arms in that building. Where there is a confrontation between security operatives and criminals, innocent persons sometimes fall victims. But definitely, there were Boko Haram elements in that building.
The Boko Haram has links with their network with AlQaeda and other terrorist organizations. Some of the people that were arrested confessed and they were leading them to where they said arms were kept and there was an exchange of gunfire.
In the process some people were arrested some died. I cannot say clearly that all those who died were members of Boko Haram but definitely there were Boko Haram elements there” he said.
CORRUPTION
Jonathan also said his administration was working with the legislature, judiciary etc to fight corruption. When asked about why people who stole a lot of money were given V.I.P treatment, he responded, “As a president you cannot gag the judiciary,.. you must allow the judiciary to be independent,”
We are winning the war on corruption, Jonathan says on the fight against corruption. He says fertilizer scam and the corruption in the oil sector is being tackled
Also on corruption, Jonathan says perception is different from reality. “Everyone talks as if corruption is our number one problem. But corruption is not Nigeria’s biggest problem. The key thing is access to finance, infrastructure
COST OF GOVERNANCE
The problem with government is not the number of special assistants and senior special assistants we have. ”If you are a minister, you need people that are competent to help you,”
People complain about political appointees as if that’s the problem. If you want to run government as you run a modern business, you will even have more problems, Jonathan says in response to a question on the size and cost of governance.
2015?
Jonathan evasive on whether he will run in 2015 or not. “If you declare too early, you will destabilise government, the electoral law gives a timeframe within which you can declare.”
“They should show you the agreement. I only talked about single term arrangement for our country not that Jonathan will serve for a single term.”
ASUU STRIKE
Jonathan alleged that politics has crept into ASUU’s strike and demands.
We
can’t change the problems in the university overnight. We are using
funds from other agencies to intervene in the problems in the tertiary
institutions. Government is taking inventories in the universities,
photographs and video clips. He said his administration was the first to do
that.
The president also said there are certain things in the 2009 agreement with ASUU that are difficult to implement. “This particular issue is beyond the 2009 agreement.”
ASUU should consider the sincerity in government and realise his government is not ready to close down other departments of government in other to solve the problems overnight.
Jonathan alleged that some of the government officials that negotiated 2009 agreement with ASUU were not competent and asks for a holistic resolution of the problem in the universities.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayThe president also said there are certain things in the 2009 agreement with ASUU that are difficult to implement. “This particular issue is beyond the 2009 agreement.”
ASUU should consider the sincerity in government and realise his government is not ready to close down other departments of government in other to solve the problems overnight.
Jonathan alleged that some of the government officials that negotiated 2009 agreement with ASUU were not competent and asks for a holistic resolution of the problem in the universities.
The
President also said he does not control the resources of the states and
wondered why lecturers in state universities are on strike over a matter
that has to do with the centre.
President Jonathan was interviewed by Nosa Igiebor (TELL), Shola Oshunkeye (SUN), Shehu Dauda (CAPITAL POST), Senami Ohiomokhare (AIT), Gloria Ume-Ezeoke (CHANNELS) on sunday evening and the interview was aired LIVE on major T.v and radio stations in Nigeria.
President Jonathan was interviewed by Nosa Igiebor (TELL), Shola Oshunkeye (SUN), Shehu Dauda (CAPITAL POST), Senami Ohiomokhare (AIT), Gloria Ume-Ezeoke (CHANNELS) on sunday evening and the interview was aired LIVE on major T.v and radio stations in Nigeria.
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I don't sincerely know how to class this president......I won't be too generous in my judgement to say that he is wise enough to dodge questions........ Neither will I be too straight forward to say that he's too dull for my liking but let the truth be told, the fact remains than Jonathan is not just competent to rule a complex country like Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteDevoid of sentiment or prejudice, if I'm a stranger and I'm asked to judge who Jonathan is with this interview report, by inference, I'll call him an irredeemable dullard because he's older than 40 years and he may find it awfully hard to learn how to answer questions at his age even if he has no provided answer for such question because a fool at 40 is a fool ...
@kareem. Don't U̶̲̥̅̊ think U̶̲̥̅̊ might be the fool?do U̶̲̥̅̊ know wat it takes to rule?are U̶̲̥̅̊ done ruling ur father's house? If U̶̲̥̅̊ don't know wat to say the shut up
DeleteI really pity nigeria and nigerians for having such an unfortunate man with such a funy and a questionable characters as president,just imagine his responce to such a sensitive issues. It‘s really a pity and a heavy slap on our faces to have such a person of no wisdon,competent and intelligent as our number one citizen.
ReplyDeleteJonathan is not to be blamed. WE all are. We voted for the shoeless choice. We have a chance to redeem this n 2015.
ReplyDeleteThis our president is just a sad news. I wish he cud hear himself. Yet this guy is supposed to be a university don!
ReplyDeleteWait and see what his watch dogs-rodent akpati or is it reuben abati?, akupe or is it okupe? and asiri or is it a sari? and others have to say.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteShame on you!
ReplyDeleteGod,please deliver us from these heartless leeches who call themselves leaders.
All these good for nothing people commenting bad about Jonathan should please keep shut.the man is trying. Its not easy to rule. All of you that does not know wat it take to rule should go and hug transformer
ReplyDeleteAnonymous September 30, 2013 at 8:54 AM, you got me laughing till tears came out of my eyes!
ReplyDelete@ anonymous September 30, 2013 at 12:13 PM + 1:12PM
ReplyDeleteI find your comments alarming. The problem we have is that we have accepted mediocrity of every form, including leadership. And we think there is no better choice. Truely a president may not be a magician that can remove all the ills overnight. But some of us who work in structured environments would confirm that mediocrity on the job will not be condoned by any Salary paying Management. We did not elect a man who wants to be clueless and shalow in matters of importance to the teeming Nigerians who are looking to him for safety or even provision of amenities. Is Nigeria better or worse off now than before his presence? Honestly tell me.
This interview shows the character of a man who could marry a stark illiterate for a wife. Nigeria under GEJ is a cruel joke,lets keep hope alive till 2015 that's the best peaceful option we have right now
ReplyDelete