President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday
hailed the Armed Forces for flushing out Boko Haram members and other
terrorists groups in the country.
Jonathan, who also vowed that his
administration would not allow anybody to overwhelm the country,
promised to resist “desperate moves” by some persons to distract him
from providing a new lease of life for the citizens.
The President spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, while featuring on a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria network news programme.
He said, “The whole point is that the
Nigerian government cannot allow anybody to overwhelm the Nigerian state
and it is the duty of the armed forces to ensure that that does not
happen, to protect the sovereignty of Nigeria, to protect the
territorial integrity of Nigeria.”
He spoke, as suspected Boko Haram
members in Borno State killed no fewer than 35 persons, including two
soldiers and a police officer, on Sunday.
The President, however, said despite
these killings, the emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states had
succeeded in restoring peace to the troubled parts of the country.
He claimed that security operatives had
flushed out insurgents and terrorists who, before the emergency rule,
had carved out enclaves for themselves.
He said, “The first point to note is
that before the declaration of a state of emergency, the situation in
the affected states was really bad. Socio-economic activities in the
states had practically ceased. There was anxiety in the communities and
beyond the affected parts of Nigeria.
“On a regular basis, there were either
cases of detonation of bombs or harassment of people. There was a state
of fear. But since the declaration of state of emergency by President
Jonathan, a lot has been achieved. It was a very good tactical and
strategic move as well as a very good demonstration of leadership,
determination and focus by this present administration.”
Jonathan added, “Three months down the
line, when you look at the affected places where the state of emergency
was declared, the first thing you will note is that before then, the
Boko Haram insurgents had carved out a part of Nigeria. They had created
enclaves where they exercised authority but the security agencies have
now flushed them out.
“I think the armed forces deserve
commendation for being able to achieve this. Socio-economic activities
have resumed in the affected states, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, and people
can now go about their normal businesses. The level of fear before the
declaration of state of emergency in those affected states was really
high and even in the rest of the country, but that has gone down now.”
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They (Nigerian Army) have tried in containing terrorism, but a lot still needs to be done. GEJ, don't give yourself credit yet for you are still far from meeting the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians when they voted you en-mass, in 2011 general elections.
ReplyDeleteGood work GEJ. Kudos to our Galant soldiers!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! GEJ,
ReplyDeletewe shall keep praying for you ,because is really not easy to combat Boko Hara men who chose to cover their faces- is terrible;but then I thank God who helped you to take such drastic decision by using soldiers knowing fully well it is war!
Keep it up GEJ