Democracy Day: Amnesty Door Still Open For Boko Haram – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has resorted to the stick-and-carrot approach in a desperate bid to get rid of terror in the country. He declared yesterday that the door of amnesty was still open for the Boko Haram sect, including those with links to Al Qaeda and other international terror organisations.

At the same time, the president declared his intention to wage a full-scale war against terrorists in the country.

In an address aired on national television and radio to mark the 2014 Democracy Day tagged “15 Years of Uninterrupted Democracy of the Fourth Republic”, the president said: “For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

“My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society.”

But he said he had left instructions for security forces: “I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.

“I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.”

He lamented that, despite all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance the country, international terrorism has crept in to threaten Nigeria, which he said was facing a new challenge.
“A war has been unleashed on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today,” he noted.

The president cited the abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State 45 days ago as an instance, even as he said the despicable act “has brought to the awareness of the entire world the heartless brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanize our nation”.
“In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of several of our compatriots; many have been injured or maimed; whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states is in jeopardy,” he added.
Assuring that the security forces will recue the Chibok girls by all means, he said: “It is now 45 days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home.
“Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism. We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.
“We must remain united to win the war against terrorism. Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.”
Jonathan observed that what Nigeria faces today is “a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the southern Russian city of Volgograd”.
He continued: “Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue.
“I welcome the statements of solidarity from patriotic citizens and the global community in support of our efforts to stamp out terrorism. I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations.
“Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces. We must not forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times.”
He assured that the days of peace will return, adding that nowhere in history has evil endured forever. “The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hard work, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces”, the president said.
He noted that although he personally ordered a low-key celebration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, “there is no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us as a people”.
“As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today, therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression.”
Jonathan said that, under his government, the country has witnessed “high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.
“In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel.”
Reeling out the gains of democracy under his administration, the president continued: “Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions. Our banks now have regional and global footprints.
“Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and, in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.
“The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy estimated at over $68 billion over the next few years.
“In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen Nigeria’s leadership role in multilateral institutions including the United Nations.
A highpoint of the Democracy Day celebration was an interactive session the president had with youths from across the country at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Parents wail as FG committee visits Chibok
The presidential fact-finding committee on the abducted Chibok schoolgirls finally made it to Chibok town on Thursday, where it met with the parents of the the abducted schoolgirls still in the captivity of the Boko Haram sect, a statement from the committee said.
The parents, who had waited a long time to receive the committee sent by President Jonathan, had nothing but unanswered questions about the the whereabouts of their daughters for the committee.
The visit to Chibok came after the committee came under public disparagement early this week for not visiting the town to meet with the parents and escaped schoolgirls, before it had left Maiduguri for Abuja last Sunday.
The committee’s spokesman, Kingsley Osadolor, who made the Thursday visit known in a statement emailed to LEADERSHIP Friday, said, “The Fact-finding Committee was received today at Chibok by the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Chairman of Chibok Local Government, five District Heads of the surrounding communities, Chairman of the Parent Teachers Association of the school, the Principal, and several others, including wailing parents of the abducted girls.”
LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the atmosphere in Chibok during the visit was saturated with emotion, as parents of the missing schoolgirls barely listened to the assuring words of the committee members, as they continued to lament and ask when they would set eyes on their daughters again.
Some of the abducted girls who managed to escape were also present to receive the committee and wept along with the parents and other school mates.
Mr Osadolor further said in his statement that, “Members of the Committee visited the burnt-out structures of Government Secondary School, where the girls were abducted. The receiving party conducted members of the Committee round the grounds of the school.
“The Principal, Vice Principals, Matrons of the hostels, as well as security guards and cooks were earlier debriefed by the Committee in Maiduguri. The Committee later held an interactive session with the Chibok communities on the school premises. At the meeting, Chairman of the Fact-finding Committee, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), who spoke with misty eyes, said the Committee came, first, to sympathise with the parents and other community members over the havoc of the insurgents.
“He assured the people of President Goodluck Jonathan’s concern about the fate of the abducted students, saying that the President was having sleepless nights. Gen. Sabo also urged the people to be calm and patient. He informed them of the multifaceted approach to resolving the abduction saga. ‘As we gather here today to see you wailing, by the grace of God, we will also gather here to dance and rejoice with you when the girls regain their freedom,’ he said.
“The Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Hon. Bana Lawan, praised the Committee for visiting and bringing messages of succour and hope to members of the communities. He berated those who had claimed that the mass abduction was a political scam. ‘The greatest fact your committee can find are the biological parents of some of the students who were abducted,’ he said.
“The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Musa Inuwa Kubo, also expressed happiness over the visit by the Committee. He urged members of the Fact-finding Committee to convey to President Jonathan the people’s hope and belief that the girls would be found and reunited with their families.
“Others who spoke at the meeting include the Rev. Enoch Mark whose two daughters are among the schoolgirls still unaccounted for. The Rev. Mark frowned at what he called the politicisation of the abduction issue, pointing out that the matter was also not religious, because the families affected were adherents of the country’s major faiths,” the statement read.

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