Nigerians will witness new approach to battle Boko Haram - Jonathan promises

By Ehi Ekhator

President Jonathan has promised yesterday that he is changing approach to tackling the dread Boko Haram insurgents. He said that Nigerians will witness a new approach to battle the menace.

He added that the activities of both Boko Haram and other international terrorists can’t divide the country.

He revealed this while receiving a delegation on Easter homage at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He admitted that the country is going through a rough patch, he assured that there is hope and the country would triumph over the insurgents

He also promised that his administration would do everything within their power to bring development, which they have already started, to other parts of the country.

He pointed out that there is need for the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary to work together to solve the problems.

His words:: “Easter is the most important ceremony in Christian faith. Without His resurrection, our faith would have been in vain. His resurrection gives us hope. You will have tribulations but there is hope for you. Today we are marking that resurrection.

“Yes, as a nation, we are having tribulations but surely, Nigeria has hope. Surely, we will overcome these tribulations. Even those who think that this country will divide, those who think the country will be divided into North, South, East and West, no way. Boko Haram will not disintegrate this country.

“Most of you are aware that when Nyanya was bombed, Nigerians from all religions and tribes participated in the evacuation of people who were injured even before the security arrived. People donated more blood than required.

“That shows that no criminal group, funded within or outside this country, can separate us. No criminal group will disintegrate this country. Boko Haram will come and go. We are working very hard, we are changing our approach, God willing, we will end Boko Haram.

“To you my brethren, I thank all of you for your prayers and I promise that we will work to do our best to bring development to this country. We have challenges. We have the issue of unemployment. Not too long ago, there was this ugly development at the Immigration Service, because of the level of unemployment and partial employment.

“Some are doing jobs that do not meet their qualifications; they are partially employed. So when you talk of employment in Customs or Immigration, you will see everybody rushing there.”

Talking about the cooperation of the tiers of government, he said: “States are semi autonomous. The President does not control states or local governments’ resources. Governors and local government chairmen control their resources. If all of us work in concert, we will solve most of our problems instead of trading blames. Government is one. God willing, we will get to where we want to be.”

An Easter card was presented to President Jonathan by the Minister of the Federal Captai Territory (FCT) Bola Mohammed, who led the delegation to the villa.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi said: “We are happy to have a President who trusts in God. Nigeria will triumph over its challenges. Mr. President, you will succeed.”

Among the legations were: the Primate of Anglican Church, Dr. Nicholas Okoh, Senator Phillip Aduda, officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Abuja.

The First lady, Patience Jonathan was neither at the homage visit nor was she at the church service where the President recited the 2014 memory verse of the chapel from 1st Peter 5:6 to 7.

 

Nigerians will witness new approach to battle Boko Haram - Jonathan promises