INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY... Jonathan Asks Insurgents to Lay Down Their Arms
BY ABU IDRISU
President Goodluck Jonathan wednesday called on the insurgents waging war against the country in the North-east to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
In a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 54th Independence Anniversary, Jonathan restated the commitment of his administration to bringing all terrorists to justice and making the country safe for all.
He extended the olive branch to those with genuine grievances, saying government would listen to them if they explored the dialogue table.
The president said as the Commander-in-Chief, he would continue to do all it takes to enable the Nigerian Armed Forces to keep throwing “devastating blows at the heart of terror”.
He urged Nigerians to put aside all parochial considerations and rally round the government and armed forces in the fight against terror.
“On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror.
“This war is unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!
“In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
“They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them,” said the president.
Jonathan paid tributes to the armed forces for their commitment and sacrifice even in the face of constant challenges and mortal danger.
“My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.
“Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenges and mortal danger.
“Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.
“I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil,” he urged.
The president stated that while the government had continued to deploy resources in the fight against terrorists, it would also pursue initiatives aimed at bringing succour to victims of terrorism in the country.
He said the recently launched Victims Support Fund, which would aggressively solicit resources to complement other government’s intervention programmes, was one of such initiatives.
Jonathan said government had in partnership with international leaders introduced the Safe Schools Initiative, which is aimed at promoting safe environment for education nationwide, starting with the North-east region.
“The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
“Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-east, the momentum of economic advancement.
“It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation.
“Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attacks, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set,” he said.
The president expressed gratitude to the international community, especially the country’s neighbours, for working closely with Nigeria in confronting terrorism.
According to him, the steady progress being made by the country against the insurgents justifies its cooperation with the international community.
The president also described the success of the 2014 National Conference as the greatest centenary gift to the country, which all Nigerians must cherish and sustain.
According to him, the conference had taught all Nigerians a lesson that a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria must learn to embrace dialogue until consensus was established.
“After months of deliberations by members of the National Conference, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its report to me.
“I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference.
“This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report.
“Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfillment. I assure you, we shall implement the report,” he said.
The president also renewed his administration’s commitment to building and sustaining a strong democratic institution anchored on credible elections.
Jonathan said the endorsement of the results of recent elections in some states by both local and international observers attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility in the country.
“We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls.
“Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
“I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections.
“Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people,” he said.
Jonathan noted that “desperate” moves to overheat the polity were becoming the regular occurrence as the country moved into an election year.
“Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.
“The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.
“We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parametres.
“The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal,” Jonathan said.
However, the president elected to mark the Independence Day celebrations inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he led former heads of state, the leadership of the National Assembly, the judiciary and top government officials to inspect the Presidential Change of Guards
The Presidential Guards Brigade of 177 Battalion based in Keffi conducted the event, which featured the inspection of new guards/quarter guards, silent drills, posting of sentries/colour patrols and echelon reporting of parade, among others.
Jonathan subsequently signed the independence anniversary register and released pigeons to signify peace.
The president was accompanied by Senate President David Mark, service chiefs, acting Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, and other dignitaries.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya.
Speaking to State House correspondents on the independence anniversary, Gowon charged Nigerians to unite, noting that the country would survive beyond 2015.
“I believe in Nigeria, I love Nigeria and we all must work for Nigeria, the government and the opposition in order to make Nigeria great. That is my wish. Nigeria will survive beyond 2015,” Gowon said.
Also, Ihedioha said Nigerians must continue to build the country and collectively decide to make the nation great.
President Goodluck Jonathan wednesday called on the insurgents waging war against the country in the North-east to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
In a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 54th Independence Anniversary, Jonathan restated the commitment of his administration to bringing all terrorists to justice and making the country safe for all.
He extended the olive branch to those with genuine grievances, saying government would listen to them if they explored the dialogue table.
The president said as the Commander-in-Chief, he would continue to do all it takes to enable the Nigerian Armed Forces to keep throwing “devastating blows at the heart of terror”.
He urged Nigerians to put aside all parochial considerations and rally round the government and armed forces in the fight against terror.
“On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror.
“This war is unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!
“In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
“They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them,” said the president.
Jonathan paid tributes to the armed forces for their commitment and sacrifice even in the face of constant challenges and mortal danger.
“My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.
“Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenges and mortal danger.
“Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.
“I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil,” he urged.
The president stated that while the government had continued to deploy resources in the fight against terrorists, it would also pursue initiatives aimed at bringing succour to victims of terrorism in the country.
He said the recently launched Victims Support Fund, which would aggressively solicit resources to complement other government’s intervention programmes, was one of such initiatives.
Jonathan said government had in partnership with international leaders introduced the Safe Schools Initiative, which is aimed at promoting safe environment for education nationwide, starting with the North-east region.
“The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
“Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-east, the momentum of economic advancement.
“It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation.
“Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attacks, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set,” he said.
The president expressed gratitude to the international community, especially the country’s neighbours, for working closely with Nigeria in confronting terrorism.
According to him, the steady progress being made by the country against the insurgents justifies its cooperation with the international community.
The president also described the success of the 2014 National Conference as the greatest centenary gift to the country, which all Nigerians must cherish and sustain.
According to him, the conference had taught all Nigerians a lesson that a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria must learn to embrace dialogue until consensus was established.
“After months of deliberations by members of the National Conference, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its report to me.
“I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference.
“This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report.
“Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfillment. I assure you, we shall implement the report,” he said.
The president also renewed his administration’s commitment to building and sustaining a strong democratic institution anchored on credible elections.
Jonathan said the endorsement of the results of recent elections in some states by both local and international observers attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility in the country.
“We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls.
“Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
“I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections.
“Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people,” he said.
Jonathan noted that “desperate” moves to overheat the polity were becoming the regular occurrence as the country moved into an election year.
“Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.
“The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.
“We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parametres.
“The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal,” Jonathan said.
However, the president elected to mark the Independence Day celebrations inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he led former heads of state, the leadership of the National Assembly, the judiciary and top government officials to inspect the Presidential Change of Guards
The Presidential Guards Brigade of 177 Battalion based in Keffi conducted the event, which featured the inspection of new guards/quarter guards, silent drills, posting of sentries/colour patrols and echelon reporting of parade, among others.
Jonathan subsequently signed the independence anniversary register and released pigeons to signify peace.
The president was accompanied by Senate President David Mark, service chiefs, acting Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, and other dignitaries.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya.
Speaking to State House correspondents on the independence anniversary, Gowon charged Nigerians to unite, noting that the country would survive beyond 2015.
“I believe in Nigeria, I love Nigeria and we all must work for Nigeria, the government and the opposition in order to make Nigeria great. That is my wish. Nigeria will survive beyond 2015,” Gowon said.
Also, Ihedioha said Nigerians must continue to build the country and collectively decide to make the nation great.
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