Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, tonight hosted his eight
presidential media chat since May 2011. The challenges confronting
Nigeria – insecurity, the economy, corruption, dearth of infrastructure –
were largely discussed. Here's all he said.
On postponed elections:The
president sought the understanding of the international community over
the postponed elections. He said the kind of scenarios where elections
are postponed for the sake of perpetuating power is not the case in
Nigeria.
Boko Haram: The president was
asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can be won in six weeks
even though the war had raged for six years. The president said he has
just acquired new weapons, and
gotten support of neigbhouring
countries to fight Boko Haram. He mentioned that Chad waited for African
Union approval, which they recently got too. He also mentioned that the
issue of security is beyond Boko Haram. The president said it runs into
dangerous signals of youth restiveness. In the next four weeks
Nigerians will see the difference in the security intervention in the
North, he said.
The president is asked where he bought arms for
the coming onslaught on Boko Haram. He said they managed to get from
other sources other than America.
Do you have confidence in Jega to conduct the 2015 elections? The president said he wished Jega was seated by his side to answer the question.
I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer whether I
have confidence in him Yes those who called for his sack may be close to
me, but they express their own opinion. More than 80 per cent of those
who sponsor messages on our behalf we don't even know them. People use
the reschedule of election to misinform Nigerians.
I have never thought about removing INEC Chairman, though I have the constitutional power to do so.''
GEJ
blamed his supporters for rumours about Jega's resignation. "I have not
told anybody that I will remove Jega," he said. He explained that if
there are obvious reasons to remove Jega, he would rely on
"constitutional" provisions that gives him powers to sack whoever he
appoints.
Attacks: ''The level of
misinformation, especially from young people is high. Attempting to
attack the president is treasonable offence.The president is protected
by soldiers, not just the police. People get carried away and make some
provocative statements.
Those who pelted my convoy during my
campaigns in the Northern part of the country were ignorant. If INEC
conducts the election poorly, it will be on my head."
Hate speeches and political violence by both opposition and ruling party members. The
president explained that "some people" get carried away by the
political play and exude these violence. He blamed aides and associates
of key political actors for the hate speeches and political violence. He
did not categorically condemn the hate speeches or war threats or
politically-motivated violence.
"We will make sure things are done so
that nobody goes to war," the president said when he pressed for
categorical stance on the war threats by ex-militants should he lose the
elections. He argues journalists have responsibility to ensure the
unity of the country.
On why he frequents churches for campaign but never visited mosques:GEJ responded by saying he does not receive invitations from Muslims like from the churches.
If election would hold should the military fails to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks:The
presidents said the new dates are sacrosanct and a new president would
be sworn in by May 29. He argued that the goal is not to totally
eliminate Boko Haram but to make adequate security arrangement for the
election.
Missing Chibok girls:Questioning
moves to the issue of the president's perceived weak support especially
as it relates to the missing Chibok girls. "Just give us some times,"
he said, responding to questions seeking the state of the girls at the
moment. The president is optimistic the girls would be rescued with the
new military collaboration with neighbouring countries. "I believe the
story would be different in a few weeks," the president said. "We would
recover them alive."
I believe the story of Chibok Girls will
get better in the next few weeks, but don't quote me. We are working
with our neighbours, we will comb the whole of that place Partying after
abduction? It's unfortunate that people play politics with the issue of
Chibok girls. It's not like that elsewhere. In other countries,
political boundaries collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in
Nigeria.
With regards to his weakened political base, the president said "in politics, there are only permanent interests."
The president is asked to clarify his previous comments that "stealing is not corruption":He
said he made that statement quoting the former Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Dahiru Mustafa, who explained to him that his analysis of
corruption cases in Nigeria showed that most of such cases were theft.
He argued that referring to stealing as corruption minimizes the crime.
"Ole (thief in Yoruba) should be called Ole and given that treatment,"
the president said.
"Let us communicate properly. The word corruption, we have abused it."
"It is not actually my quotation. I quoted the former Chief Justice,"
as he continues to defend his previous comments on corruption and
stealing.
We have convicted more corrupt people than ever. It
is just that Nigerians are confused on what the difference is between
stealing and corruption.
The state of the N1 billion security loan and funds confiscated in South Africa. He
said the government have not started disbursing the N1 billion loan.
With regards to the .3 million arms money seized in South Africa, he
said the money does not belong to Nigeria, technically. He added that
the matter was in court.
The president is asked if he would hand over if he loses the next election. "If
the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, another president
would be sworn in," the president said. He argued that Nigeria is more
important than any individual.
The president is asked what he will do differently if he wins.He
said most of the problem he had in the past is related to perception
and not concrete. He did not really say what he would do differently.
The president is asked to comment on his opponent for the 2015 general election, Buhari. The
president responded it was an unfair question. He however mentioned
that he has received more criticism that Muhammadu Buhari on social
media.
The president is asked if he has confidence in INEC as presidently constituted. He answered saying he appointed everyone at the management level of INEC.
Closing Remarks:In
his closing remarks, president Jonathan assured Nigerians that
elections would be conducted and a new president sworn in on May 29. He
argued that it is better for INEC to conduct an election everyone would
be happy with.
Chat ended 20:19, 11th February, 2015.
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