President Goodluck Jonathan and his military chiefs on Thursday undertook an unexpected visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital yesterday to the suprise of many.
The president and the military high command left for Borno State, the hot bed of Boko Haram insurgency, after attending the Armed Forces Remembrance in Abuja.
The president arrived Maiduguri on his official jet, accompanied by two other military aircrafts that landed at the Maiduguri International Airport at airport at about 3pm on Thursday.
Mr. Jonathan was accompanied by all the service chiefs of the Nigeria Armed forces as well as the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and few other politicians from the state.
Since March 2013, Jonathan has not visited Borno state, until yesterday.
Mr. Jonathan had come under severe criticisms over the handling of the fight against the group. The president has also been criticised for not meeting with troops who complain of poor equipment and funding for the war.
It can be recalled that Boko Haram recently seized Baga, a town in Borno State after sacking the military base there. Amnesty International said the group killed 2,000 residents.
In may 2014, a trip to Chibok, where over 200 female students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents was cancelled by Mr President at the last minute.
Parents of the abducted girls who had lined up waiting to receive President Jonathan on his sympathy visit to Chibok, ended up frustrated, as their ‘’August visitor’’ never turned up.
President Jonathan was immediately bashed by local and foreign media, as he was immediately compared to leaders like Barrack Obama who many felt would have visted Borno against all odds.
Infact Jonathan's visit to Borno just about a month left to the presidential elections should create some sort of suspision.
Malala/Malema schooling Jonathan?
It took the visit of Malala Yousafzai, the influential Pakistani teenager, before President Goodluck Jonathan finally agreed to meet with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls.
Also more recently, South Africa’s eccentric youth leader and federal lawmaker, Julius Malema, attacked President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the massacre in Baga, Borno State, describing the Nigerian president as “irresponsible” and suggesting South African intervention against the extremist Boko Haram sect.
He also criticised Mr. Jonathan for rushing out public condemnations of the terrorist attack on a newspaper in France when he has remained silent until date on the bloodbath in Borno.
Fast-foward 24 hours later, President Jonathan visits Borno.
Why visit now?
A place he has failed to to visit, for close to 2 years (since March 2013), despite the fact that it was considered a hotbed of Islamist militant group Boko Haram's bloody insurgency.
A place where he failed to visit to motivate troops who complain of poor equipment and funding for the war against terror.
A place he failed to visit for several months to show some condolence to thousands of Nigerians who have been displaced, injured or lost loved ones to the Boko Haram menace.
Even if Jonathan failed to visit other Borno towns, an immediate visit to Chibok in Borno, where over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped last April would have calmed stormy waters.
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| President Goodluck Jonathan sympathising with some wounded soldiers during his visit to Maiduguri |
The president’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had recently announced that Mr. Jonathan would visit the troubled zone to canvass votes despite failing to visit the towns where the insurgents have continued to murder and abduct hundreds for several months.
But those familiar with Mr Jonathan’s political strategies as he campaigns for re-election will agree that the President was most likely talked into the trip by his political advisers and officials of his campaign council as a way of neutralising criticism over his refusal to visit the region despite an upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram militants who have massacred civilians and security officials.
So do you think President Jonathan's Borno visit had any political undertone? Or maybe not.
You be the judge.
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It surely has political undertone. Why now? It is rather late. Its makes no sense. It is selfish.
ReplyDeleteThis guy should be voted out. So he needs the vote of these people? Hell no
ReplyDeleteHaba. It is obvious now. If He did not deem it fit to go there since, it is obvious he went there in a preparation for his campaigns in the area. Now he will know that one good turn deserves another. His action shows that he's cruel and crude.
ReplyDeleteThe most daft and naive person I ever known in politics. He has no control of himself, only a puppet in the hands of those benefiting from his weakness, indecisive, clue less nature. That visit, if at all there was because there was no video coverage, only his aide -Abati was describing the visit on TV. That visit is clearly political, but I am afraid, he may be disappointed
ReplyDeleteGEJ is the Man. He will surely return back, cos God is with him. If not he could not have achieve this much in the face of opposition organised bokoharam against his govt.
ReplyDeleteYou guyz wanted him to rush to Borno during the heat for those BH to use him as target ba? Cows! U think he has no sense.
ReplyDeleteU
ReplyDelete@Ananymous 9.15am. If i have my way, i will fight u one on one for ur stupidity statement by supporting GEJ. Mumu like u. Let ur GEJ answer the 5 questions OBJ asked him. Fool!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJona is Mumu
ReplyDeleteyour father and generation is mumu. you cattle rearers!
DeleteNo doubt GEJ is (MUMU) where Abati, and the rest of those deceiving him is, no way for him this second time' you just wait and see FEBUHARI is on the way come 14 FEBUARI.
ReplyDeleteGEJ is real MUMU as you say.
ReplyDeleteJonamumu Goatluck
ReplyDeleteClueless president
ReplyDelete