President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday
had an emergency meeting with service chiefs over the killing of 50
students of the College of Agriculture in Yobe State. Read more
Jonathan disclosed this while fielding
questions during the Presidential Media Chat broadcast live on
television stations. He had earlier at the 53rd Independence
Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service at the National
Christian Centre, Abuja, admitted that activities of the sect were
depressing him and his administration.
He said after meeting with the service
chiefs, he directed them to meet and come up with ideas on how to
step up the efforts aimed at curbing the attacks and killings by the
insurgents which he described as “ embarrassing.”
The President said, “Like I said
earlier today (Sunday), sometimes one needs a lot of courage to move
on. My seat as the President can be very hot and can also be very cold.
“I held a meeting with service chiefs on
the killings of students in Yobe State before coming for this media
chat. We discussed and resolved that we must do more.
“You will agree with me that incidence
of attacks came down after I declared state of emergency in some states
but it is coming up again. I have asked the service chiefs to meet again
now and see what we can do to stop these embarrassing attacks.”
When asked to respond to allegations
that operatives of the State Security Service killed innocent people
alleged to be members of Boko Haram at the Apo Legislative Quarters
in Abuja, the President said there was enough reason to believe that
those shot were suspected terrorists.
Jonathan, who added that some of those
arrested had made confessional statements, said that security agencies
had even foiled several plots by insurgents to bomb Abuja this month.
He said, “I have been briefed about it
and people have made confessional statements. That is why I say
sometimes, some of these people who call for probe don’t mean well for
this country. And I always say that when there are confrontations
between certain operatives and criminals in a place where people live,
maybe one or two people who may be innocent probably might be
affected during the exchange of fire. But definitely, there were Boko
Haram elements among them .
Again, if you monitor global trend,
there was this feeling about Al-Qeada network having links with
Al-Shabab and Boko Haram because these criminal gangs have networks. And
the feeling was that in September, they would bomb many cities across
the world to commemorate 9/11. It happened in many parts of the world.
What happened in Nairobi, Kenya, is being linked to that and people
attempted to also bomb Abuja in September.
“Some were arrested and some were killed but people confessed. There were obviously Boko Haram elements among them.”
At the Independence anniversary
church service tagged “Living with certainty in uncertain times,” the
President said he lacked words and courage to explain to the
bereaved families, and indeed Nigerians, what happened to the College of
Agriculture students on Sunday.
While describing Boko Haram activities
and other challenges facing his administration as creations of the devil
meant to slow him down, Jonathan vowed that the insurgents would not
succeed.
He pledged that although forces of evil
would continue to attempt to drag the nation back, he would leave the
country better than he met it.
He said, “Today, you will agree with me
that if you were in my shoes, you will lack words to say. We had this
programme in mind when we went to bed last night that by this time, we
would all gather here to thank God for what he has done for this great
country.
“But then, only a few minutes after
midnight, reports came in that about 21 students were murdered in Yobe
State by a group that described themselves as Boko Haram.
“If you are wearing my shoes, what
courage will you have to stand here before Nigerians? What message will
you send to Nigerians and the parents of these people, our future
leaders, students of a college of agriculture? Read more“Will you say that the killing of these
students is political? The students belonged to which political group?
People who killed them don’t even know them. Will you say it is ethnic
cleansing? They belonged to which ethnic group in Nigeria?
“Will you say it was based on religious
belief or what? These killed students, are they Christians, Muslims or
what? This is the situation almost on a daily basis. It’s quite
depressing!
“But having listened to the message of
the CAN President (Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor), you will agree with me that
all of us have hope. By God’s grace, we will get to where we want to get
to as a nation.
“The journey of a nation is just like
the journey of an individual. We will encounter obstacles. Sometimes, it
gets darker when you are getting nearer. The challenges we are seeing
now are very transient and we will surely get over them.
“No Boko Haram or any group can suffer
this country. We may suffer pains just like Jesus Christ said at
critical moment that though the spirit is willing, the body is weak.
“I believe these challenges are the
creations of the devil to slow down our development as a nation but we
have reached the turning point where we must all move to join the
developed society.”by Friday Olokor,Olalekan Adetayo and Eniola Akinkuotu
CULLED FROM PUNCH NEWSPAPER
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