President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his
determination to bring back the more than 200
Chibok school girls saying that his silence in the past
was to avoid compromising investigations on the
abductions.
In a 514 word opinion piece article published in
Friday’s edition of the Washington Post ,
President Jonathan regretted that his silence on the
issue has been misconstrued by critics as a sign of
weakness as he confessed that being a father, he is
touched by the feelings of the parents of the abducted
girls.
In the article titled “Nothing is more important
than bringing home Nigeria’s missing
girls” the president said that the terrorism in
Nigeria is not unique and that it was in that respect
that Nigeria this month, alongside, Benin, Cameroon,
Chad, Niger, Britain and the United States
established an External Intelligence Response Unit to
share security information on such threats in West
Africa.
He also stated that his silence on the administration’s
efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped Chibok
girls did not amount to inaction or weakness as being
perceived by partisan critics.
He added that he would in September propose to the
United Nations to establish an international force to
tackle the activities of such terrorists anywhere they
are found.
Below is the article written by President Goodluck
Jonathan:
“I have had to remain quiet about
the continuing efforts by Nigeria’s
military, police and investigators to
find the girls kidnapped in April
from the town of Chibok by the
terrorist group Boko Haram.
“I am deeply concerned, however,
that my silence as we work to
accomplish the task at hand is
being misused by partisan critics
to suggest inaction or even
weakness.
“My silence has been necessary to
avoid compromising the details of
our investigation. But let me state
this unequivocally: My government
and our security and intelligence
services have spared no
resources, have not stopped and
will not stop until the girls are
returned home and the thugs who
took them are brought to justice.
“On my orders, our forces have
aggressively sought these killers in
the forests of northern Borno state,
where they are based. They are
fully committed to defending the
integrity of their country.
“My heart aches for the missing
children and their families. I am a
parent myself, and I know how
awfully this must hurt. Nothing is
more important to me than finding
and rescuing our girls.
“Since 2010, thousands of people
have been killed, injured, abducted
or forced by Boko Haram, which
seeks to overwhelm the country
and impose its ideology on all
Nigerians. My government is
determined to make that
impossible. We will not succumb
to the will of terrorists.
“The abduction of our children
cannot be seen as an isolated
event. Terrorism knows no
borders. This month, Nigeria,
Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger,
Britain and the United States
established an External
Intelligence Response Unit to
share security information on such
threats in West Africa.
I propose that we build on this
step to establish an enduring,
worldwide commitment to
destroying terrorism and those
who finance or give safe haven to
the terrorists.
“In September, I will urge the U.N.
General Assembly to establish a
U.N.-coordinated system for
sharing intelligence and, if
necessary, special forces and law
enforcement to confront terrorism
wherever it occurs.
“In Nigeria, there are political,
religious and ethnic cleavages to
overcome if we are to defeat Boko
Haram. We need greater
understanding and outreach
between Muslims and Christians.
We also know that, as it seeks to
recruit the gullible, Boko Haram
exploits the economic disparities
that remain a problem in our
country.
We are addressing these
challenges through such steps as
bringing stakeholders together and
creating a safe schools initiative, a
victims’ support fund and a
presidential economic recovery
program for northeastern Nigeria.
We are also committed to ridding
our country of corruption and
safeguarding human and civil
rights and the rule of law.
“Something positive can come out
of the situation in Nigeria: most
important, the return of the Chibok
girls, but also new international
cooperation to deny havens to
terrorists and destroy their
organizations wherever they are —
whether in the forests of Nigeria,
on the streets of New York or
sanctuaries in Iraq or Pakistan.
Those who value humanity ,
civilization and the innocence of
children can do no less.”
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