Chibok girls: Parents want case closed, say funeral rites already performed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MORE than four months after unfruitful search for their abducted girls, parents of the kidnapped Chibok school girls said they want the matter closed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Since the girls have been missing for more than four months, the parents said they presumed the students to have died for which their funeral rites have already been performed in their (parents’) minds according to their custom.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_456121" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/bringbackourgirls-jonathan-meets-chibok-parents/jonachibok5/" rel="attachment wp-att-456121" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Parents of abducted Chibok girls during a meeting with President Jonathan at State House" class="size-full wp-image-456121" height="274" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/JonaChibok5.gif" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Parents of abducted Chibok girls during a meeting with President Jonathan at State House</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They, however, urged the federal government bring the girls’ corpses for honourable burial.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This position was disclosed yesterday by the #BringOurGirls advocacy group, during its daily sit-out meeting for the rescue of the missing school girls at Unity Fountain, Abuja.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“All they said they want is their corpses to bury them honourably,” the group said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a way of driving their demand home, the group said it is vigorously mobilizing people on and offline and via social media towards holding a mega protest march in the FCT.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to them, over 200 groups in Abuja have so far been contacted and have given positive response to participate, with 135 individuals on the group’s database contacted.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While calling on federal government to double its effort to free the girls,  the meeting said only political and military action can rescue our girls, and that is why we do what we are doing to compel that.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The group added a new slogan #NotWithoutOurDaughters! in response to a question on when  it will  stop the campaign.</span></div> <br /></div>

Chibok girls: Parents want case closed, say funeral rites already performed

MORE than four months after unfruitful search for their abducted girls, parents of the kidnapped Chibok school girls said they want the ma...

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Chibok girls: Britain to send three Tornado planes

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="story-featured-image" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;"> <img alt="Abducted Chibok girls" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" scale="0" src="http://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Abducted-Chibok-school-grils-360x225.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /><br /> <div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abducted Chibok girls</span></div> </div> <div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_0" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">BRITAIN’s Royal Air Force   plans to send three fighter jets to help in locating the more than 200   schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14 this year.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The RAF Tornado GR4s equipped with surveillance facilities, according to Daily Mail on Wednesday, will undertake “reconnaissance missions” over the Sambissa Forest where the girls are believed to be held.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A   British government source told The Times that the jets would help the Nigerian authorities in tracking the movements of the insurgents.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The report however added that the mission was dependent on a nearby nation giving the British government the nod to use its runway.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Ministry of Defence spokesman did not deny the report about the deployment of the planes.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said, “The United Kingdom continues to work with the United States and France as well as Nigeria’s neighbours and international partners to provide advice and assistance to the Nigerian government.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Together with our allies we have provided continuous surveillance support to the Nigerian authorities, including satellite imagery. We are still in discussion with partners on the deployment of further surveillance capability.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last Friday,   Britain’s Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, had condemned the abduction of over 100 people in Nigeria and had pledged that the UK would continue to support in the fight against Boko Haram.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said, “I am appalled to see reports of another large abduction by terrorists in the North- East of Nigeria. Officials at the British High Commission in Abuja are urgently looking into the details. The UK stands firmly with Nigeria as it faces the scourge of Boko Haram.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The group on Monday killed at least three people and kidnapped 15 others in a fresh cross-border attack in northern Cameroon.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The attack took place on Monday afternoon when at least 20 armed men tried to get food supplies, stealing all the [food] stocks found in the Cameroonian village of Greya,” the source told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The source added, “Boko Haram militants killed at least three civilians and abducted a dozen others – presumably all Cameroonians.’’</span></div> <div> <br /></div> </div> </div>

Chibok girls: Britain to send three Tornado planes

Abducted Chibok girls BRITAIN’s Royal Air Force   plans to send three fighter jets to help in locating the more than 200   schoolg...

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Could you survive as a Christian living in Gwoza, Chibok in Nigeria or Iraq, right now?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <table style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; border: none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 638px;"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="638"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;">So much happened and is still happening in North East Nigeria but just a little is being reported. Interestingly, the only report we get is about how many have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists or the number of these terrorists that have been killed by Nigerian Soldiers. In nearly all the report, there seem to be a connivance among the media to consciously forget the primary target of these Islamic terrorists. They have sisd it time without number, though we all choose to pretend about it, that Christians are their primary target. On several occasions they have commanded some Christians to deny Christianity failing which results in brutal killing.<br /><br />Like the Christians in North Eastern Nigeria so are the Christians in Mosul, Irbil etc and the Yazidi sect, in Iraq. From what is going on right now, I am constantly jealous that the threats and killings of the Yazidis was what kicked the World out of sleep. It seems that the World did not and are not considering the lives of the Christians, viciously killed by the Islamic State, right there in Mosul and other places. While these  Christians lives were being killed and forced out of their communities, forced to deny Christianity, no threat came from anywhere. No military intervention, no Aids droppings, nothing.<br /><br />The case of Christians in Iraq is even nothing to be compared with the plight of Christians in North East Nigeria. We all know that, before the wicked Islamic State wickedness began, Boko Haram terrorists have been killing Christians in Nigeria. Did you hear the sound of planes coming to drop Aids for these wickedly and viciously killed Christians? Not even a mention! The World left everything for Nigeria to handle. Several of these Christians were beheaded, burnt to death, shot dead inside their places of worship, bombed while having service and so on. All the World did was to condemn these devilish actions. While they continue to tell anyone that cares to listen that their primary goal is to Islamize the whole of a northern Nigeria, many laugh it off.<br /><br />Today, many of these Christians in Northern Nigeria are in caves, eating wild fruits and battling with dangerous animals. They have been forced out of their homes, places of worship, farms and their very lives and yet the world seem not to consider them for Aids droppings neither do Nigeria qualify to be given a hand, without unnecessary conditionalities, so as to battle these terrorists to a standstill.<br /><br />The worst is that I am yet to hear from the world acclaimed human right movements. I must say here that, it is complete hypocrisy for these people to campaign against the falling of trees and the killing of animals and fishes in the waters but yet lend no loud voice to the condemnable vicious acts of devilish wickedness against Christians in North Eastern Nigeria and in Iraq.<br /><br />Well, whether in Iraq or in Nigeria, Christians are Christians and lives are lives! Let the World speak up or forever keep Quiet in every other thing happening anywhere in the world!<br /><br />Below is details of the happening in Iraq.<br /><a href="http://lists.catholic.org/link.php?URL=aHR0cDovL3ljdmYub3JnL2NvbGxlY3Rpb25zL2VtZXJnZW5jeS1yZXNwb25zZS9wcm9kdWN0cy9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktZnVuZC1zYXZlLWlyYXFpLWNocmlzdGlhbnM=&Name=&EncryptedMemberID=MTIxNTE3NjQ3Njg%3D&CampaignID=5561&CampaignStatisticsID=14987&Demo=0&Email=c2VsZmxlc3NoZWFydHNuZ0BnbWFpbC5jb20=" shape="rect" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><img border="0" hspace="0" name="147df28016686283_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhkGt8UKIfIF1WENYE4OuQ0Xw8ND4jbRbI6bszZd7k9XP5nWef2m0fEHlke74xlUENKsuthIocoqFtiJjpJQAjXy_OzCfJzlQhQuN_VqHuuIP8bymh2c_noUHnUBX5vwWJBKsrRME4yeb9qINwksejeIIZ3Xdx2_vnjI4owVVT-_aktLLM=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none; display: block; max-width: 100%;" vspace="0" width="638" /></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The mark of death for Christians.</span></span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There's a red mark on your door. In dripping blood-red paint, it's been marked with the Arabic letter N, a monogram for Christians. It's a mark of death, a warning. You have 24 hours to flee, leaving everything behind. No food or water, no vehicle, no money, nothing is allowed to you. </span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />To stay means death. You've heard the stories. Children beheaded, their heads displayed in a public park in Mosul. Women and girls raped and enslaved. Even those who pay the tax for being Christian have still had their family kidnapped, their wives raped and their livelihoods confiscated. The only option is to flee on foot.<br /></span><br /> <table style="border: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 608px;"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="608"><a href="http://lists.catholic.org/link.php?URL=aHR0cDovL3ljdmYub3JnL2NvbGxlY3Rpb25zL2VtZXJnZW5jeS1yZXNwb25zZS9wcm9kdWN0cy9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktZnVuZC1zYXZlLWlyYXFpLWNocmlzdGlhbnM=&Name=&EncryptedMemberID=MTIxNTE3NjQ3Njg%3D&CampaignID=5561&CampaignStatisticsID=14987&Demo=0&Email=c2VsZmxlc3NoZWFydHNuZ0BnbWFpbC5jb20=" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" hspace="0" name="147df28016686283_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhvCYUj_uqRC-_mRK3hiI_rnN46y8Pa7mhGZE8TTn0WtDqKY6ZCM02BLqBe0X4DWTjN6quqjwuySi1FA4VFdUnvXZVYfgYxi3M2uia4LtndFP0ZKJSMhQf-XqniFH63IBy994wiDIfDTVHkBweiysRhV-AvG7jUmEp8q_qE8m5CvZCN5Ys=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none;" vspace="0" width="598" /></span></a></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Christians flee as ISIS terrorists close in to kill. Not all of them will make it.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />At a border checkpoint, your family is aggressively searched for hidden money and jewelry. A woman shrieks in pain as her finger is cut off because in her panic she could not remove the ring. In front of you, a child's favorite toy is stripped from his tiny hands, as if the Islamic State needed it.<br /><br />You know your home, heard-earned and well-kept, will be given as a reward to a terrorist fighter and his family along with all your possessions inside.<br /><br />These thoughts weigh on your mind as you are forced to walk in the grueling 120 degree summertime heat of the unrelenting Iraqi desert. You have nothing but the clothes on your back. Nobody is coming to rescue you as your lips crack with dryness.<br /></span><br /> <table style="border: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 608px;"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="608"><a href="http://lists.catholic.org/link.php?URL=aHR0cDovL3ljdmYub3JnL2NvbGxlY3Rpb25zL2VtZXJnZW5jeS1yZXNwb25zZS9wcm9kdWN0cy9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktZnVuZC1zYXZlLWlyYXFpLWNocmlzdGlhbnM=&Name=&EncryptedMemberID=MTIxNTE3NjQ3Njg%3D&CampaignID=5561&CampaignStatisticsID=14987&Demo=0&Email=c2VsZmxlc3NoZWFydHNuZ0BnbWFpbC5jb20=" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" hspace="0" name="147df28016686283_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiYpLhySZj3b9qDjpHPfsIFvMNDR5NQCo64uQxI7Lxwp3F7VRfR2vsSGYbV7OnwvC-UgELAkgdSXt984O12QtdlgGMJovvXSs36E4Kr__lbQg5bJ_CfLWlwMap5-2vqcJ8lHQ2GJ1y2z5nJ5DxByxTnwWPTo2IxrjM6NfOedC5dbpnQf-g=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none;" vspace="0" width="598" /></span></a></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The odds of survival in the desert are poor, especially for the elderly and young.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />You watch as the elderly collapse at the side of the road, family wailing because if they don't keep moving, roving bands of Islamic State terrorists will kill them family for sport. Grandparents are left to die from exhaustion, or at the hands of gleeful terrorists.<br /><br />If you're lucky, you might make it to a city that will take you in, but then you're likely to be shuttled to a refugee camp where all you can do is wait - a virtual prison sentence with heat and hunger for bars.<br /></span><br /> <table style="border: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 608px;"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="608"><a href="http://lists.catholic.org/link.php?URL=aHR0cDovL3ljdmYub3JnL2NvbGxlY3Rpb25zL2VtZXJnZW5jeS1yZXNwb25zZS9wcm9kdWN0cy9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktZnVuZC1zYXZlLWlyYXFpLWNocmlzdGlhbnM=&Name=&EncryptedMemberID=MTIxNTE3NjQ3Njg%3D&CampaignID=5561&CampaignStatisticsID=14987&Demo=0&Email=c2VsZmxlc3NoZWFydHNuZ0BnbWFpbC5jb20=" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" hspace="0" name="147df28016686283_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.22" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgqMYKaCUJoLxGUbu2hTfgu8Lz7eg8mO1OrPQ7ekF6yKUM31K-v4IuTy58fN3e8qQV1-z5cQNbH3rrk1e8ZYvG7rE4nff8Oq7qlG_-gzAuwmz9FQJVOZC9CCCAzvRSpOs9-tVZKPE6ktt7tjFYzca3I1MK7idyB3vF-w6bMj565bqnTe5M=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none;" vspace="0" width="598" /></span></a></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For Iraqi Christians, this is what good luck looks like. Could you imagine living like this?<br />Could you imagine this being your child?</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />The unlucky are trapped on mountains of death, surrounded by another band of Islamic State fighters who think you should die instead of leave. For those people, trapped on a mountainside without food, water, medicine or the ability to flee, all you can do is wait for a slow death by exposure and starvation.<br /><br />The children are the first to die, especially the babies.<br /></span><br /> <table style="border: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 608px;"><tbody> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="608"><a href="http://lists.catholic.org/link.php?URL=aHR0cDovL3ljdmYub3JnL2NvbGxlY3Rpb25zL2VtZXJnZW5jeS1yZXNwb25zZS9wcm9kdWN0cy9lbWVyZ2VuY3ktZnVuZC1zYXZlLWlyYXFpLWNocmlzdGlhbnM=&Name=&EncryptedMemberID=MTIxNTE3NjQ3Njg%3D&CampaignID=5561&CampaignStatisticsID=14987&Demo=0&Email=c2VsZmxlc3NoZWFydHNuZ0BnbWFpbC5jb20=" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" hspace="0" name="147df28016686283_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgBdenfjB4KRGS4v5uZIX5J0eEMjbExQVur910K8v-VCSl9AJGZpDe6pS5xIJs5zeEzGIuq3wkNEU73a8AO4ddn2r4UTbE68yR_Gh62RT3DK62bLTloY0Uy3coC5kIH6rGUS1r08BIpcqEU6pn61s0cJ5Q3K6lVDQUL8dbtxKFRuwbz4pQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: none;" vspace="0" width="598" /></span></a></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many children have died in the desert. Many more are expected to die in the weeks to come.</span></td></tr> </tbody></table> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is not a work of fiction. This is real. This is happening right now. The only way you can help is to act now. Tomorrow will not be too late, IT IS TOO LATE. DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!</span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can write to: selflessheartsng@gmail.com for enquiries on how you can help.</span></div>

Could you survive as a Christian living in Gwoza, Chibok in Nigeria or Iraq, right now?

So much happened and is still happening in North East Nigeria but just a little is being reported. Interestingly, the only report we get i...

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I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /> <a class="thumbLink" href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/satisfy-jonathans-efforts-rescue-chibok-girls-ibb/" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;" title="I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB"><img alt="Babangida400" class="attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" height="224" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Babangida400.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="224" /></a><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was 73 years old yesterday. In this interview to mark the occasion, Babangida, fondly called IBB, speaks on some critical issues in the country,   including the continuous detention of the Chibok girls by the Islamist group, Boko Haram, the power situation in the country, the 2015 general elections, among others.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It has been over 100 days since the kidnapping of the Chibok school girls. Despite the assurances by the international community,   the girls have not been found. What is the way forward? When do you think we can get these girls back home to their parents?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Perhaps the way forward is what government is doing now. I know there are complications. It is no longer an issue that you could ask the military to move into Sambisa forest and rescue the girls. I think Nigerians want the girls rescued and brought back home alive not dead; that is a very daring thing to do. From my experience as a professional soldier,  a lot of planning, a lot of cooperation,  a lot of study has to be done to achieve this objective. 217 or whatever the number is, is a lot of population to lose just like that. So I think government is trying from what we got during our last briefing; I am quite satisfied that efforts are really being made to get the girls out. You see, the objective is to get them out of that place alive, the operative word is alive, you can order a full scale military operation and you could get them all killed which would defeat the objective.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </div>

I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was 73 years old yesterday. In this interview to mark the occasion, Baba...

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Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Yakassi.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Yakassi" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Yakassi-702x336.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 0.8; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters" width="702" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters</span></span></h1> <a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=77148#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="fa fa-comments-o" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </span></span></a></header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yakassai hits Northern elders over ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok girls</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">■ Tanko Yakassai blasts Northern elders</strong><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former Political Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari, Al­haji Tanko Yakasai, has declared that the ultimatum given to Pres­ident Goodluck Jonathan by the Maita­ma Sule-led Northern Elders’ Forum to produce the over 200 abducted Chibok girls or forgo his 2105 presidential ambi­tion, is irrational.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yakasai, who spoke with <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun </i>in Abuja, said the elders were only making such statement to amuse themselves. He added that such people would always blame the president for whatever action he takes to free the schoolgirls who were abducted from Chibok in Borno State since April 14 by <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>insurgents.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to the 88-year-old Yakasai: “I think they are only making such statements to amuse themselves. By the provision of the constitution of Nigeria, the North alone cannot produce the president; and also the South. It will require the combination of efforts from the North and the South for anybody to be elected as president of Nigeria. Therefore, those who are making this statement are either deliberately ignoring the provision of the constitution or are ignorant about the constitutional requirement for the election of a president for Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I don’t think it is rational because you don’t give a time limit in an effort like this if you really want a successful outcome in this effort. You push somebody to do something in a rush and you are not sure of the end result of such an action.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yakassai, a member of the ongoing national conference, also spoke on the outcome of the conference and other national issues in this interview with <b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AIDOGHIE PAULINUS </b>in Abuja.<b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Excerpts:</b></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Northern Elders’ Forum gave President Goodluck Jonathan, ultimatum to produce the abducted Chibok girls or foreclose his 2015 ambition. What is your reaction to this?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think they are only making such statements to amuse themselves. By the provision of the constitution of Nigeria, the North alone cannot produce the president, and also the South. It will require the combination of efforts from the North and the South for anybody to be elected as president of Nigeria. Therefore, those who are making this statement are either deliberately ignoring the provision of the constitution or are ignorant about the constitutional requirement for the election of a president for Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am concerned about the orchestrated campaign on the release of the Chibok girls by some people. I have my fears whether some people are deliberately pushing the president to take a precipitate action which may not help in getting the Chibok girls back to the society without any harm. They are pushing for action that may not ensure the safety of the girls themselves for them only to turn round and blame the president for the consequences of such an action.  So, I hope that the president would bear this my fear in mind whenever people are trying to rush him into precipitating action on this matter.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">re you saying that the ultimatum given by the Northern Elders Forum is not rational at all?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don’t think it is rational because you don’t give a time limit in an effort like this if you really want a successful outcome. You push somebody to do something in a rush and you are not sure of the end result of such an action.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is your view about the general insecurity in the North?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First, it should be noted that the problem of insecurity is not universal in the North. It affected certain areas, limited areas and in particular, three out of 19 states in the North. And it is really not a welcome development to have insecurity anywhere in the country. But I think what Nigerians need to do is to assist the government with ideas as to how the government would overcome this problem.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the root cause of the problem?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The government is doing that. If anybody has any assistance to render to the government, I think it is a good idea. Let him go and tell the government. If you know the root cause of this problem, go and tell the government. I am sure the government will welcome you.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a credible voice from the North, what in your opinion, led to this problem?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Everybody knows the root cause. The root cause is the activities of certain religious group, which started way back in 2002. That is a period of 12 years now. And it is developing because initially, it was not taken seriously by the government and a situation like this, once it is out of hand, you only need to command all efforts that would assist you to bring it to an end. It happened in the Niger Delta area. It took a number of years before the government of the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was able to tackle the issue and settled it amicably. And I am sure as time goes on, the government will be on top of the situation by getting the right approach to the issue and also, by getting the insurgents themselves to realise the need for dialogue. Anywhere in the world when a situation like this arose, usually, it is only resolved through dialogue. You know of what happened in Britain, the Irish Republic Army insurgency. It took more than 25 years to quell it. But through dialogue, by involving the international community and by stringent effort on the part of the British government, a dialogue was conducted and the outcome of the dialogue was the resolution of the problem. Now, they live in peace. I am sure we too, can achieve that objective if we get the correct ideas and if the insurgents themselves agree to come to dialogue with the government.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you see them agreeing to come to dialogue with the government?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sooner or later because what made the Irish Republic Army and Britain to come to the negotiation table after 25 years of struggle, I think, will make also the insurgents in Nigeria, sooner or later, to agree to come to dialogue with the government in order to find a way out of the situation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, the idea that poverty led to the insurgency is nonsensical?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I didn’t say that.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But that is what some people believe, that the insurgency is as a result of the inequality in the land.</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But we had insurgency in the Niger Delta area. You see, there are so many reasons that you can have, that can lead to disturbances of peace. Poverty can be a factor, but I am not saying that poverty alone is the factor.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some also believe that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to participate in the 2011 presidential election contributed immensely. How true is this?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But I told you it started way back in 2002. So, it is not something that started at the time of Jonathan. If you remember, the situation started when the insurgents were engaging the police, I think in 2007 or 2008 under Yar’Adua. The matter was such that the police could not cope and the result was that they appealed to the government for the military to assist them. And the military was involved. And if you can remember, it was the military that arrested the leader of the insurgents, Mohammed Yusuf, and handed him over to the police and unfortunately, somebody among the policemen shot him dead, which exacerbated the problem. But it is not a phenomenon that happened during the reign of Jonathan.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some have said the abduction of the Chibok girls is just a propaganda, that nobody was abducted. Is it true?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well, I am not one of those.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What response do you have for them?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I said I am not one of them. I don’t believe them.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How do you see the response of the international community to the issue?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is very encouraging.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the course of the Chibok saga, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, came into the picture and said we may not have the complete number of the abducted girls back. How do you see his comment?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Obasanjo is an individual. We have 170 million Nigerians. Each individual has his own opinion. He is not a prophet. God has not given him power to foresee the future.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, granted an interview in which he said the North East governors, especially governors of the affected states, did not do their homework very well and that was why the insecurity escalated. He concluded that those governors deserve to be sacked. Do you share his view?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It sounded like a military language. The governors were elected.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But is it actually their fault?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians. You cannot single out one or two people to say that they are responsible. We are all responsible for what happened that led to the emergence of the insurgency.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At what point did you join President Jonathan? What attracted you to him?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I did not join Jonathan. You see, I am a Nigerian. I am 88 years old.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Really?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes. 88 years old. I was born in 1926. If at this age, I don’t know the limit of my effort, then I am not worth my age.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How would you describe his administration?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Like any other administration in Nigeria, it has positive aspect and it has negative aspect.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which outweighs the other?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I did not put them on a scale. Give me time and I will put them on a scale. But I know there are negatives, there are positives.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2015, will you support President Jonathan?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let him come out. I will support the best candidate that comes out sponsored by the party. So, I am waiting. I have no candidate as of now. When the candidates are out and I see their programmes and I see their parties, then, I will be able to make up my mind.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If the president appoints you his campaign manager, will you accept?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don’t have the energy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Can’t you support with ideas from behind?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If he is the candidate of my choice, I will certainly assist him.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the president’s campaign manager?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not as campaign manager. I cannot be campaign manager for anybody because I am too old to do that. I don’t have the energy, but I have ideas. Not physical ideas, but mental.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are a delegate to the national conference. What is going on there?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We were to resume yesterday, but when we went, we were given papers and the papers were voluminous. By my count, they are about 4000 pages. They wanted us to read them.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it possible to go through all of them?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is what they think. But all the delegates said they cannot cope. However, we were told to come to go through the report of the decisions taken by the conference and if we are satisfied that the report is a reflection of the collective decision taken by the conference, then we will approve it. Instead, we were confronted with new issues – a draft constitution which we did not deliberate upon, which is running into hundreds of pages and also, a draft bill which we also did not consider as a conference. So, most people feel that these are new elements in the responsibility of the conference and I am sure that tomorrow, we will be able to express our opinion on them and whatever is the decision of the majority of delegates, so be it.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">North-South dichotomy is really playing out at the conference. What this?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is not true. It is not true. It is not true.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But there are intrigues here and there?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well, intrigue is part of politics. If there were intrigues on North-South dichotomy, we couldn’t have reached consensus on the 20 committees of the conference. If you follow the reports of all the 20 committees appointed, when they reported, they reached decisions by consensus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How would you describe the conference so far?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Very successful. People were afraid that the conference would signal the dissolution of Nigeria, but it has strengthened the unity. You can see the outcome. We are more united. We understand each other better now than before.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you sure the report will see the light of the day?</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes. I am sure because I can’t see all these efforts going down the drain.</span></div> <div id="adscontainer" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.857; margin: 0px 0px 1.857em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters

Ultimatum to Jonathan: Maitama Sule, others are jesters   Yakassai hits Northern elders over ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok girl...

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Presidency reacts to report which alleges GEJ revealed location of Chibok girls

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3553228383595990263" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto; width: 616px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Fm2A82EGi8vbfn-9LQChnQ_dq1YTbi025mjTKeXxipN1LaKPwkAdLzBnu4sSlf_SdCL5NadWZaR2QHwnPu8QbK0Z2dikQMr8M0YIbfNbQerOPv0tiWHz1qFP0vx-dF4nlbKrJkp30s/s1600/L-R-Abati-Jonathan-360x167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Fm2A82EGi8vbfn-9LQChnQ_dq1YTbi025mjTKeXxipN1LaKPwkAdLzBnu4sSlf_SdCL5NadWZaR2QHwnPu8QbK0Z2dikQMr8M0YIbfNbQerOPv0tiWHz1qFP0vx-dF4nlbKrJkp30s/s1600/L-R-Abati-Jonathan-360x167.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">     </span></span></div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3553228383595990263" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto; width: 616px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">           Below is the State House Press Release</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <b>Press release which alleges that president Jonathan has revealed location of Chibok girls is political dirty trick...</b></blockquote> <span lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">ll media organisations and persons on my mailing list should kindly disregard the press release purportedly issued by me earlier today titled: <b>President Jonathan reveals location of Chibok girls and exposes Boko Haram masterminds</b>.</span></span></span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">No such press release was written or circulated by me. It is clearly the work of fraudsters who have hacked into my email account in an odious attempt to mislead the public at the expense of the credibility of the Jonathan Administration. Continue...</span></span></span></div> <a href="" name="more"></a></blockquote> <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span></div> <blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">We totally condemn this criminal resort to political dirty tricks which seeks to cynically play on national concern and emotions about the Boko Haram insurgency and fate of the abducted Chibok girls.</span></span></span></div> </blockquote> <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">Aspects of the fraudulent press release, such as its incoherence and invitation to click on a<span> </span>link, <span> </span>would have alerted discerning persons who are conversant with the style and format <span> </span>of my press statements to the possibility <span> </span>of skulduggery.</span></span></span></div> </blockquote> <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">I find it necessary, however, to<span>  </span>issue this disclaimer for the benefit of the unwary.</span></span></span></div> </blockquote> <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">R<span class="il">euben</span> <span class="il">Abati</span></span></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">Special Adviser to the President</span></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">(Media & Publicity)</span></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 14px;">August 15, 2014</span></u></span></span></div> </blockquote> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> </div> </div>

Presidency reacts to report which alleges GEJ revealed location of Chibok girls

                 Below is the State House Press Release Press release which alleges that president Jonathan has revealed location of ...

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Ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok Girls: Shut up, you’re rabble-rousers, NEC tells NEF

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="rtl" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By Henry Umoru<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />ABUJA —  A group of Northern elders under the aegis, Northern Elders Council, NEC, yesterday, took a swipe at the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, for asking President Goodluck Jonathan to forget about contesting in 2015 if by October, he fails to produce the Chibok Secondary School students kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect in April.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />According to the group, rather than criticise President Goodluck Jonathan on the Chibok girls, the Northern Elders Forum should co-operate with him, in the collective fight against insurgency.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Yusufu Mamman, NEC urged the Northern Elders Forum which has former Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Coomasie as Chairman to shut up, saying they are rouble-rousers<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The Northern Elders Forum had in a statement by Mr. Solomon Dalung and Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Monday, said that the “North does not believe that the Nigerian military cannot defeat the terrorists, and that the conflicts in the country were deliberately being prolonged simply to weaken the North politically and economically.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to Mamman: “The Northern Elders Council appreciates and supports the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against insurgency. It also appreciates the timeline as agreed by the Council of States towards ending the insurgency and similar criminal activities across the country on or before the end of the year.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“It is necessary to also appreciate our security agencies for their untiring effort and sacrifice to end the senseless killings of our fellow citizens.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Terrorism as we are aware is a global phenomenon and any attempt to politicise it will not augur well for our country. It is time that we understood and fully appreciated the danger posed by this menace, so that we put all hands on deck and co-operate with government and our security agencies towards ending the scourge.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Insurgency does not recognise sectional, ethnic, linguistic or cultural interests; it has no respect for them. To ensure that insurgency is nipped in the bud President Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan has said that he will mobilise logistical and international support to ensure that our security agencies are fully provided of their needs to motivate them in surmounting the challenge posed by insecurity.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“As a measure of concern, strategy and compassion, there is the Presidential Initiative for the development of the North East region and Insurgency Victims Fund has been set up to cater for the victims and respond to the challenges posed by insurgency.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“Similarly, Nigerians and the world at large are aware that the President held a meeting with the parents of the Chibok girls, assuring them of the safe return of their children.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />“Management of such delicate and complex release of hostages presupposes the primacy of having the girls alive and well by tact and carefully planned and executed strategy to ensure success.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We call on all Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of our elder statesmen such as Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen Muharnmadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Abdulsalami  Abubakar, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, including all retired Chief Justices of the Federation because of the level of their involvement in our collective will and effort to move the nation forward.”</span></div> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-browser="safari" data-dynload="" data-ob-mark="true" data-os="ipad" data-src="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ultimatum-jonathan-chibok-girls-shut-youre-rabble-rousers-nec-tells-nef/" id="outbrain_widget_0" obdone="true" style="border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ob_brnBox_cont NA" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="ob_empty" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></wbr></span><span class="ob_org_header" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ultimatum-jonathan-chibok-girls-shut-youre-rabble-rousers-nec-tells-nef/#sthash.X8dboG3N.dpuf</span></div>

Ultimatum to Jonathan on Chibok Girls: Shut up, you’re rabble-rousers, NEC tells NEF

By Henry Umoru ABUJA —  A group of Northern elders under the aegis, Northern Elders Council, NEC, yesterday, took a swipe at the Norther...

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GEJ reacts to Northern Elders ultimatum over missing Chibok girls

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-5wQjjU_VLlIVZwMtuP_siSly186JL-crkb1BQVUmccTEStjp0Kwu6GJuO4gqClKodKEK65bMnO1Qui5DpncfP_7JxDnJfWBquCTRERsQjAfyeIww7vc4GkpxxfloQU3jmaymOKMA_u0/s1600/President-Jonathan-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-5wQjjU_VLlIVZwMtuP_siSly186JL-crkb1BQVUmccTEStjp0Kwu6GJuO4gqClKodKEK65bMnO1Qui5DpncfP_7JxDnJfWBquCTRERsQjAfyeIww7vc4GkpxxfloQU3jmaymOKMA_u0/s1600/President-Jonathan-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan has reacted to the October ultimatum handed to him by the Northern Elders Forum to return the missing Chibok girls to their families and end insurgency activities in the north. They made this demand at a press conference yesterday August 11th, alleging that the sect activities are politically motivated with a grand agenda to weaken the political and economical interest of the North, with a view of exploiting this weakness in the 2015 elections.</span><br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We are convinced that most of these conflicts are being engineered to weaken the North politically and economically by interests, which intend to exploit such weaknesses for electoral benefits. In the light of our firm conviction that the insurgency and related security challenges pose threats to the 2015 elections and the survival of our nation, we strongly advise President Goodluck Jonathan to bring an end to the insurgency in all its manifestations and produce the Chibok girls before the end of October 2014. Continue..</span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The circumstances under which our fellow citizens in and around Gwoza in Borno State in particular live and die will not be tolerated by any people who have a government and a leader sworn to defend them, and they must be reversed immediately,” the Northern Elders said.<br /><br />Reacting to the deadline, President Jonathan through his SSA on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, released a statement today describing the threat by the Northern leaders as "preposterous" and "contrary to common sense".<br /><br />Find the statement below...<br /><br />We read with deep concern the statement published in the Media today by the Northern Elders Forum giving President Goodluck Jonathan a two ultimatum on the Boko Haram Insurgency and the Chibok Girls abduction Saga.<br /><br />We wish to state categorically that President Jonathan does not require any threat or ultimatum from any group of persons to be alive to his responsibilities to the Nigerian People.<br />The issue of Insurgency especially those ideologically based on Islamic extremism is a global phenomenon and requires tact, military capability, serious de-radicalisation techniques and community based counter insurgency programmes to ensure success.<br /><br />In these areas, the Federal Government is making progress:<br /><br />a)   We are improving on our operational capabilities and efficiencies by acquiring more advanced weapons and technologies for our military and security agencies.<br />b)   We have drafted more military personnel to the region to strengthen the fighting power of our armed forces.<br />c)   We are taking advantage of the offers from our international military and intelligence allies to assist in identifying key locations.<br />d)   We are working with our neighbours to secure the borders and limit the movements of the Boko Haram fighters, building on the agreements reached at the recent summits in Paris and London.<br />e)   We are deploying more resources to maximize operational efficiency, acquire more advanced and relevant weaponry and boost the general morale of our combatants. This is why the Government recently requested for an additional funding of $1bn.<br />f)    And the last piece in the puzzle is targeting the domestic and international funding, and stopping the money flows into the coffers of the terrorists.<br />g)   With all these efforts and the support of our allies, these steps will help fight the threat of the Boko haram and move us closer to bringing the girls back safely.<br /><br />Lastly, the suggestion that the Government is carrying out any scheme to annihilate any section of the country for political gain is preposterous, contrary to common sense, divisive and essentially a deliberate attempt to disseminate “hate mentality” and cause mischief.<br /><br />President Goodluck Jonathan was voted for by an overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the board, and he will never promote any policy that is either divisive or inimical to the wellbeing of any section of the polity.<br />What the country needs today is total co-operation, of all its citizens and stakeholders, with the Government and our military and the security agencies.<br />We wish to assure Nigerians that in spite of this and many more distractions, the President is focused on continued successful executions of his transformation Agenda; and the guarantee of the security of lives and properties of the Nigerian people.</span></div>

GEJ reacts to Northern Elders ultimatum over missing Chibok girls

President Jonathan has reacted to the October ultimatum handed to him by the Northern Elders Forum to return the missing Chibok girls to ...

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