Take Your Protest To Boko Haram, Not Me–Jonathan

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, shocked the #BringBackOurGirls demonstrators who protested the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, over a month ago by the terrorist group called Boko Haram.

At the protest on Thursday, the Minister of State, FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, who conveyed Jonathan’s speech to the demonstrators, urged them to take their protests to the terrorist group.

He cited Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan as examples, stating that citizens of these Arab countries do not face the government whenever terrorists attack the countries, rather, they face the insurgents.

“We must be careful not to politicise the campaign against terrorism. When a bomb goes off in Kabul, Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists. When a bomb goes off in Bagdad, Iraq, the people of Iraq do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists.

“When a bomb goes off in Islamabad, Pakistan, the people of Pakistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists.

“When a bomb goes off in Nigeria, we must all unite to fight the terrorists,” Jonathan told the campaigners.

He also warned that, “it is wrong and most unfair to suggest that there was a slow reaction to this kidnapping. As Commander-in-Chief, Mr President meets with the security chiefs almost daily and he is on constant consultation with regional and global partners on this terrorists’ threat.”

The protest was led by former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwezili. The demonstrators had planned to take their protest to the Presidential Villa, but were stopped by security agents to the Federal Secretariat within the Three Arms Zone, a few metres from the Villa gate.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Minister of Women Affairs, Zaynab Maina; and Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Laraba, joined Akinjide to represent the President.

Also with them were the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Sarah Jubiril; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati; and the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, among others.