Jonathan Goodluck Says He Is Not A Weak Leader

President Goodluck Jonathan last Sunday hosted his seventh Presidential Media Chat. The programme covered a lot of national issues ranging from the kidnap of over 250 girls of the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, the alleged missing NNPC $20bn controversy and the Boko Haram insurgency, among others. Here are excerpts of what the President said concerning the on-going security challenges and the attendant problems.

We desire your co-operation

We urge all to cooperate with government. For instance with this kidnap, some have accused us of working against Muslims but I am now hearing that about 90% of the abducted girls are Christians. So it is a problem for everyone.

No Boko Haram member in my cabinet

I never said that Boko Haram has infiltrated my cabinet or FEC, which includes the President, VP, SGF, and the Ministers, etc. I said Boko Haram has infiltrated the government. Government includes several organs, including the security services. That time, remember, a Senator was being prosecuted for links with Boko Haram and right now we are still investigating some security agents.

I am not a weak leader

Each individual has his own way of doing things. Some say I am weak; that as commander in chief I should show power and appear powerful. I have changed all the service chiefs in one day. I have changed Ministers. But as president you also know we must verify certain information. If people are after you they go to magazines to publish certain things. Some are vicious and viciously go after your Ministers, especially the petroleum minister. I am not trying to protect anybody.

I feel the pain

I feel pained any day I hear that one person die from this Boko Haram, I feel pain. This thing cannot go on. If WAEC cannot conduct exams imagine the illiteracy consequences. If schools in Rivers state were closed down in my time, I cannot be here. So, I feel pain whether security officer, the militants or citizens lose their life in this madness.

We are seeking for international support

We have made a request with international organisations and even personally with President Obama to assist us in this insecurity problem. So also with the President of France. Here in Africa with Cameroon, Ghana, Togo etc.

We try to control the rate of entry from neighbouring countries, while we encourage free movement with our neighbours and so we are very careful to manage the rate of illegal immigrants into our country

We are still consulting on whether to extend the state of emergency.

Emergency rule is effective

The state of emergency has been effective. Soldiers operate under international guidelines. State of emergency serves to reduce litigation and to give some leverage to our soldiers. Example, under State of Emergency, soldiers can enter your compound if they suspect you are hiding criminals. It does not give licence to kill and wipe out people. So far State of Emergency has been successful

Bombing started in Abuja

Unfortunately, our Armed Forces have not been well equipped for a long time because we have not had strong issues until now because of this Boko Haram. People can spread rumours that we don’t care because it’s in the far north-east. No one wants to hear a bomb blast. People have forgotten that this thing started in Abuja here. Churches were bombed.

These people are simply bombing churches and mosques to start a war between Muslims and Christians. Our security forces have managed to restrict their activities. If people say things are getting worse they are wrong. We should encourage the Armed Forces, not condemning them.

On Taraba crisis

Whoever claims helicopters are dropping supplies for Boko Haram in Taraba should use cameras, take their pictures and show us. I am not ruling it out but tell us where and when.

Militants and terrorists not the same

I met Asari for the first time as a Governor when Obasanjo invited him and the militants in state house Abuja and again when I became president. Unlike Niger Delta activists the Boko Haram are terrorists who simply want to kill. Nobody has appeared as leader of Boko Haram. If you invite Niger Delta activists to come to meetings to negotiate they attended. We know what they were agitating for, and I am not saying this because I am from Niger Delta.

Now we are using Borno elders to help us trace their leaders so we can talk with them, but these are simply terrorists. Niger Delta activists do not go to markets to drop bombs.

We don’t know where the girls are

WAEC said a total of 530 students were enrolled for the examination in Chibok. Contrary to the widespread belief, Chibok Government Secondary School is a mixed institution which also enrolled 135 boys out of 350 registered. Now after the abduction of the girls, 189 students were transferred to Uba examination centre where they are continuing with the examinations. So we are working on the problem. We need cooperation from the parents and guardians. But there is yet no confirmation of where the girls are at the moment.

Marriage rumour is false!

There are rumours that some of the girls have been married out, but married out to where, to whom? Whoever has those girls cannot keep them forever, we will get them. The good thing is that there is yet no report of any harm to the girls.

We are not negotiating with the insurgents

We cannot be negotiating with people we don’t know. No one has claimed to be in possession of those girls. Boko Haram has not said they are holding the girls. So the issue of negotiating should not come up for now.

Message to their parents

The principal of the school told me last night that 54 girls have returned. We need the identity of those girls…we are talking with all the neighbouring countries and will surely get the girls back. We are strongly determined to rescue the girls. We are all fathers and mothers. These are girls about to take their final year exams. So should be around 17, 18 year olds. My message to their parents is that we will get those girls wherever those girls are. Security men are scouting everywhere in search of the kidnapped girls in Borno State. These are trying times for Nigeria, but we continue to do our best.