President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said he would neither resign nor convert to Islam as demanded by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a condition to ceasefire.
Jonathan, who spoke through his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, on a day that about seven soldiers died in an attack on a security patrol team in Damaturu, Yobe State, by a suspected Boko Haram bomber, described the call as “rude and a mere blackmail.”
“The President cannot be intimidated by any group or individual. The President will never resign. He has the mandate of Nigerians to serve his father land and nobody should imagine that he will succumb to blackmail,” Abati told journalists in Abuja.
The sect, in a broadcast on Saturday asked Jonathan to either resign or change to Islam before it could lay down its arms against the country.
“We do not kill women and children but those who have offended us, arrested our people and kill them,” the group said in the wake of a promise by Jonathan to end its activities before the end of June this year.
Abati said it was laughable for any group in the country to hand down such a condition to a President who was elected by both Muslims and Christians.
He said, “When Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan in the 2011 general election, they knew they were voting for a Christian.
“He continues to enjoy the goodwill and support of the good people of Nigeria. As President, Dr. Jonathan is the leader of both Muslims and Christians; in fact; he is the leader of persons of all faiths.
“So, it amounts to sheer blackmail for any individual or group to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convert to Islam.”
In Damaturu on Sunday, a suicide bomber rammed his car into a military patrol van, killing himself and at least five soldiers. It was believed that the killer laid an ambush for the soldiers.
The state police commissioner, Patrick Egbuniwe, confirmed that there were military casualties. Egbuniwe, who did not provide figure, said that the suicide bomber was being chased by a military patrol vehicle when he blew himself up.
However, a security source said the bomber, who drove a sport utility vehicle had been parked along the roadside and then rammed into the military convoy.
Spokesman for the police in Yobe, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin, said, “The gunman laid ambush on a security patrol team using explosive devices around Shagari Low Cost Housing area.”
Some residential properties in Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate were reportedly destroyed in the attack.
For about two years, bombings and gun attacks by Boko Haram have become commonplace in the northern part of the country including Abuja.
The sect which has made negotiation with the government impossible says it is seeking the conversion of Nigeria to an Islamic state.
It had attacked the United Nations building in Abuja on August 26, 2011; the headquarters of the Nigeria Police on June 16, 2011; and the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, on Christmas Day.
Ahmed Dasuki, the National Security Adviser, had pledged to seek ceasefire with
the group before the commencement of the Islamic month of Ramadan which entered
its 18th day today.
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In my own opinion, the more you respond to these stupid boko haram people, the more popularity you give them. Must the presidency respond to such blind and senseless demand? Even a dead man knows its a stupid & cheap blackmail that does not require a response. They say the best answer for a fool is silence! That's what I expected of the presidency.
ReplyDeleteIn my own opinion, the more you respond to these stupid boko haram people, the more popularity you give them. Must the presidency respond to such blind and senseless demand? Even a dead man knows its a stupid & cheap blackmail that does not require a response. They say the best answer for a fool is silence! That's what I expected of the presidency.
ReplyDeleteIn paragraph thirteen (13), are those the only menace that the sect have done in the state? How about the most tragic incidence that occurred in Kano state and other places like Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, Kaduna etc? Please let us be optimistic and realistic in-terms of equality and justice!!
ReplyDeleteThese Boko Haram,are they really Muslims?
ReplyDeleteNigeria is a multi-religious nation.this guys called boko haram are themselfs haram. Educational backwardness of the northern children is the stronghold of boko haram. May God repay them with their wickedness.
ReplyDeleteTo my perception, these Boko-Haram sects are not Muslims nor Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between Islamists and Muslims.
ReplyDeleteAm speechless.
ReplyDeleteMR. PreSident borrow some Leave fRom the American Never negotiate with a terrorist group in Any guise hence for Truce demand for your Head. May God help you
ReplyDeleteIt very disturbing that the president is giving in to the whims and caprices of these 'no goods'. We expect better please!
ReplyDeleteBOKO HARAM CONDITION FOR A CEASE FIRE IS BOTH LAUGHABLE, BARBARIC,AND CHILDISH. IS JONATHAN RESIGNATION OR CONVERSION THEIR NUMBER ONE OBJECTIVE IF THEY HAVE ONE AT ALL.THEY DID NOT TAKE UP ARMS BECAUSE OF JONATHAN AND THEREFORE JONATHAN'S RESIGNATION OR CONVERSION WOULD NOT BE THE SOLUTION EITHER.
ReplyDeleteThe president made a grave mistake of replying these sects, because they are seeking for cheap popularity.
ReplyDeleteYes my brother Jay Jay, the best answer to a fool is silence. The President mustn't respond to this their cheap BLACKMAIL.
ReplyDeletebh term of cease sound so funny n childish dat a proof dat our northern big wig has a hand in it. de ar jus beatin a dead horse may God hep our presidnt to stand.
ReplyDeleteIslam and Muslim are used interchangeably so when people refer to one it equally means the other.For long, I know that the marriage which consummate to our country Nigeria was born out of ulterior motive and after independence,instead of us to lay a solid foundation for the generation unborn; our leaders began to celebrate failure (one example is FESTEC 77) and corruption was the order of the day. I pray and hope our fatherland will not turn to another Somali and Modagishu.For common man on the street, the level of decay in Nigeria is worst than what was reported and will take generation.The panacea will taken determined crop of leaders after a revolution.ALL OUR LEADERS ARE LIARS.
ReplyDeleteDr goodluck,dont mind the sect go ahead and rule Nigeria we surport u
ReplyDeleteIF TRULY THE SO CALLED BOKO HARAM ARE FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE OF ISLAM AS THEY CLAIM THEN I SEE NO REASON WHY THEY WOULD ASK THE PRESIDENT TO RESIGN.CITIZENS OF NIGERIA WAKEUP COS THE ACT OF THE BOKO HARAM IS FUND BY THE NORTHERN LEADERS TO DESTABILIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRESIDENT SO THAT HE CAN BE IMPEACHED FOR THE NOTHERN TO TAKE OVER POWER
ReplyDeleteThis Boko haram's are fools, they should know that we have right to religion, why forcing your religion on somebody? God is watching you wit all this innocent blood you are sucking your cup will full one day. Mr. president just be silent let God fight for u.
ReplyDeleteResponding to some bunch lunatics (Boko Haram)is a proof that this pesident is jobless. You only lend gredibility to them by responding. Silence they say is the best answer to a fool cos when you argue with him, people won't tell the difference.
ReplyDeleteOGA Sir,you shouldn't respond to foolish talks.
ReplyDeleteso, it's no longer 'Boko Haram' now but 'Jonathan Goodluck Haram'. who are they to start dictating to Nigerians?
ReplyDeleteI think is high time we should called a spade a spade, since we can't have peace in togetherness, lets find peace in division.....and say "to your tent o! israel".
ReplyDeleteGod has said it that no one can escape from his/her sin. come to think of it the name BOKO_HARAMS they are all (RAMS) that's y they called themselves that nonsense name. they think is dieing in war or killing innocent people that will make them to go to Heaven the so Called Mohammad is deceiving them all.. the BIBLE made us to know that the greatest thing God demands from us is LOVE if you love your brothers and sisters even your fellow Humans beings you will not plan evil against them that is what God demands from us... the so Called Mohammad has deceiving them all.. at the same time killing themselves as suicide bomber... well am not here to judge any body but what i say is that if you take your LIFE you have a Question to answer because you are not the owner of yourself. mz.paul@yahoo.com. thats my email.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking for myself, the President should resign and hand over power to a more focused none corrupt individual. If not that the Boko Haram are disoriented maniacs, given to killing of innocent people and their stupid taunting of converting people to Islam, at least one of their statement made sense to me: "Goodluck should resign".
ReplyDeleteGoodluck has no clue or plans for this country and everyone giving comments here knew it. Its just evident now in the President spending time to reply to morons asking him to step down. A president that condone corruption to the highest level. NNPC case came all he did was to retire the bad eggs and thanked them letting them go with the loot. Fuel subsidy issue is still there, nothing has been done... etc. So why should such person continue to rule us?
If only Gboko Haram are sane enough to understand the right course they should fight for, am sure 98% of Nigerians will support them. The only 2% would be the dirty, possessed politicians who knows nothing other than embezzling.
Mr Paul MZ 3:22pm; Dont ever insult prophet mohammed, 'cos we muslims respect jesus christ. the mistake u did was given ur email. be vigilant. for an insult to a prophet of God is a great sin. so becareful. what boko haram are doing is not related to the teachings of prophet mohammad (s.a.w). pls beware. for others may Harm u.
ReplyDeleteMr. President u don't answer morons. @Anonymous 7:27AM I will answer ur question; BOKO HARAM r not really Muslims, they r d uneducated Northerners and I'll quote Anonymous 7:33Am: "Nigeria is a multi-religious nation, these guys call boko haram r themselves haram. EDUCATIONAL BACKWARDNESS OF THE NORTHERN CHILDREN IS THE STRONGHOLD OF BOKO HARAM" bcos if u watch d video of how dey do kill dey holds both d Holy Bible and d Holy Quran and dey quote dem as well, must times if dey stop a bus during d crisis they will ask for d IYANMIRI pple dat is to say if u can speak hausa or even if u r a Yoruba Muslim u r gone, am talking from experience. So, it is d hatred dey have for other tribes. God will help us.
ReplyDeleteLet the Muslims. . . Chief Imam. . .Sultan and Emirs come up on national TV and tell us what they are doing to stop the Boko Haramic blood shed on other religious sects.
ReplyDeleteYes Mr President, i like that from ur spok person, but dont respond again, we, Nigerians elected u as the president of Federal Republtc of Nigeria, today u are d GCFR is only God That can change that not human. we elected u as we elected Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1983, b4 they turn it down, we elected MKO b4 they turn it down, now tel me the president we elected from the North, non they always asum power in a cruk way, so what do u expect from such people? nothing gud,they have been killing themselves whenever they plan thier coup, the likes of Babangida, Buhari, Abacha, Yakubu,etc all plan coup to rule, it a pity that they included my uncle Sege, T idiagbon, we learnt the game, we are prepared 4 them, let them try nonsense u urself will not believe ur eyes,we elected pls dont warri, we are watching from the west,the south, and the east, they will feel the real pain when the time comes, how many of past president from the north want to die? non sir they are just blabbing.my advice is dont give them single trust,as they dont believe in u Mr President. where is Osama today, tough time doas nmot last but tough people do.May the almighty Allah be with u, amin. Muhammed SWS told us to search for knowledge even if it will take us to go to china, knowledge illuminate once life, the Boko are not muslims, and they are not Nigerian treat them like criminals. the High rank police Officers know thier source but they scared to open up.
ReplyDeletePlease my brothers, dont joint them to commit sin, if u dont know anything about Qur'an pls just keep it, i have read the Bibble and the Qur'an as a muslim,u need to read the inglish Qur'an and see the beauty of THE HOLLY BOOK, THATS MY ADVICE. I WISH ALL NIGERIAN ASALAM (PEACE.
lET THE YUTHS FROMTHE sOUTH,wEST, AND EAST PREPAR, WE CAN ALLOW THE SO CALLED NORTHERNERS TO BRING PROBLEM TO US AGAIN, BCOS REMEBER, AWO HAD PROBLEM WITH THEM, MKO HAD PROBLEM WITH THEM,OJUKU HAD PROBLEM WITH THEM, WE ACN CONTINU LIKE THIS, THE EDUCATED YUTHS FROM THE NORTH RAE SINCERELY WELCOM IF THEY IF THEY GOOD MUSLIMS,AND CHRISTIANS, OR GUD NIGERIAN THAT HAVE PASSION FOR THIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE, IF BELIVE IN BOKO THEN THEY SHULD GO TO HEL, WE HAVE DONE IF FROM THE WEST B4, WE CAN ALWAYS DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN BCOS WE KNO JUSTICE AND WE BELIEVE IN IT, IF U LIKE TAKE THE BOKO IN THE WORLD WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR RITE, ND WE WILL WIN, WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE. MR PRESIDENT GO AHEAD, WE NIGERIANS GAVE U OUR MANDATE, THEY HAVE DONE THIERS, THEY SHOULD LEAVE U ALONE. I DONT EVEN KNO Y U APPOINTED MANY OF THEM, THE GUD ONCE HAV WORKED WITH OBASANJO.
ReplyDeletePLEASE MY BROTHERS, LEARN MORE FROM THE ENGLISH QUR'AN, U WILL GAIN SOMETHING, HOLY PROPHECT SAW.IS NOT WHAT SOME OF THINK, HIS SOMBODY U NEED TO KNOW AT LEAST LITTLE ABOUT, AND PLES DONT GIVE UR FULL INFO TO ANY ONE. NIGERIA WILL SURVIVE, AMIN.
ReplyDeletePls, is time to separate d country. For peace to reign among d geopolitical zone. Abeg president let b.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I think it was a grave mistake to have responded to these charlatans ... there are remarks that are better ignored . However , it is good to begin to take a critical look at the events that have been happening in this country in the past two years , especially as it bothers on violence in the North via BH. I have worked and lived amongst the so called Hausas or Northerners and honstly they are nice people, however they are also very fanatical when it comes to their dominant religion which is Islam. I do not think that the average northerner supports the violence and mayhem caused by BH but when those violence are coloured in the guise of protecting or pushing Islam , the average Norherner becomes sympathetic . This is the reason they have become silent all these while . Unfortnately they are not very informed and may not understand what they have gotten themselves into . BH will definitely go the way of the Taliban , if they are left , the North will go back to stoning offenders and ultimately take them back to the stone age , now is ths what the average Northerner wants , it is left for them to decide . The only way for them to do that is for the elites amongst them to come out and either support BH or fight them with all that they have . This they are yet to do . For the South , I warn that this is the time to prepare for the break up of this nation , prepare and wait , if it happens , then you are ready , if it does not , you are ready .
ReplyDeleteMy last word , people die every day , policemen , soldiers , ordinary people who have gone to worship thier God and all we hear is assurances from the government . I think Goodluck Jonathan should take the part of glory and immediately put steps on ground to convene a sovereign national conference , he should stop playing a weakling because I know he is not . Act now and stop this killing .
paul or wateva u call urself, be mindful of ur statement. u dont insult prophets of God.were u not taught manner in ur religion?
ReplyDeleteJANUARY 1966 ABURI ACCORD IS STILL THE ANSWER TO NIGERIA PROBLEM,BELIEVE IT OR NOT.THEREFORE,ON ABURI I STRONGLY STAND.CONFEDERATION SYSTEM OF THE FINAL ANSWER,SO THAT ABUJA POWER WILL NO LONGER BE ATTRACTIVE.
ReplyDeleteJANUARY 1966 ABURI ACCORD IS STILL THE ANSWER TO NIGERIA PROBLEM,BELIEV IT OR NOT.THEREFORE,ON ABURI I STRONGLY STAND.CONFEDERATION SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE FINAL ANSWER,SO THAT THIS ABUJA POWER WILL NO LONGER BE ATTRACTIVE.
ReplyDeleteTOOTHLESS BULLDOG OF A PRESIDENT. WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF? WHY DONT YOU BORROW A LEAF FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA? ARE YOU AFRAID OF A BUNCH OF CRIMINALS WHO ARE TERRORISING THE MOST POPULOUS BLACK NATION ON EARTH? SO YOU CANNOT MUSTER FEDERAL MIGHT AND RESOURCES TO CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THIS WICKED SNAKE? YOU ARE SOUNDING APOLOGETIC AND PLEADING TO A GROUP OF KILLERS AND DRUG CRAZED FELONS CALLED BOKO HARAM? WHAT A SHAME! HOW MANY MORE INNOCENTS HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE YOU MOVE BUTT TO DO SOMETHING REAL ABOUT IT? WHAT A COWARD AND DISSAPOITMENT YOU ARE JONATHAN? GO READ ABOUT THE COURAGE OF JONATHAN OF THE BIBLE! DO SOMETHING AND STOP BEING THE COWARD. OR YOU WILL GO DOWN AS THE WORST PRESIDENT THAT NIGERIA EVER HAD!
ReplyDeleteTrue Nigerians are watching and lessons are being learnt but certainly all is not WELL especially when some pesons think in the wildest imagination that rulership is meant for them. Whose end is it that is proposed by thier unreliable religion of violence? Clear examples of hatred on regions are sited and it's obvious. Our fathers wanted us to be together but greed associated with corruption and imposition of religion on religious tolerable group would not allow law abiding people to have peace. Naturally, when two obtain maturity, separation comes and no one wants to belt the cat. It's time jooo.
ReplyDelete"Let there be NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION. Truth has been made clear from error. Whosoever reject false worship and believes in God has grasped the most trust worthy that never breaks. And God hear's and know all things." (Quran 2:256)
ReplyDelete"If it had been your Lord's will, all of the people on earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?" (Quran 10:99)
"The messenger's duty is to proclaim the massage" (Quran 5:99)
"So if they dispute with you, say i have submitted my whole self to God, and so have those who follow me. And say to people of the book and the unlearned: Do you also submit your selve?, if they do, then they are on the right guidance. But if they turned away, your duty is to convey the massage. And God's sight are all of his servants". (Quran 3:20)