– insecurity, the economy,
corruption, dearth of infrastructure
– were largely discussed. Here’s all
he said, compiled by me with
additional information from
PremiumTimes.
On postponed elections:
The president sought the
understanding of the international
community over the postponed
elections. He said the kind of
scenarios where elections are
postponed for the sake of
perpetuating power is not the case
in Nigeria.
Boko Haram:
The president was asked why he
thinks the war against Boko Haram
can be won in six weeks even
though the war had raged for six
years. The president said he has
just acquired new weapons, and
gotten support of neigbhouring
countries to fight Boko Haram. He
mentioned that Chad waited for
African Union approval, which they
recently got too. He also mentioned
that the issue of security is beyond
Boko Haram. The president said it
runs into dangerous signals of
youth restiveness. In the next four
weeks Nigerians will see the
difference in the security
intervention in the North, he said.
The president is asked where he
bought arms for the coming onslaught
on Boko Haram. He said they managed
to get from other sources other than
America.
Do you have confidence in Jega to
conduct the 2015 elections?
The president said he wished Jega was
seated by his side to answer the
question.
I wish Jega were here, I could have
asked him to answer whether I
have confidence in him Yes those
who called for his sack may be
close to me, but they express their
own opinion. More than 80 per
cent of those who sponsor messages
on our behalf we don’t even know
them. People use the reschedule of
election to misinform Nigerians.
I have never thought about
removing INEC Chairman, though I
have the constitutional power to do
so.”
GEJ blamed his supporters for
rumours about Jega’s resignation.
“I have not told anybody that I will
remove Jega,” he said. He
explained that if there are obvious
reasons to remove Jega, he would
rely on “constitutional” provisions
that gives him powers to sack
whoever he appoints.
Attacks:
”The level of misinformation,
especially from young people is
high. Attempting to attack the
president is treasonable
offence.The president is protected
by soldiers, not just the police.
People get carried away and make
some provocative statements.
Those who pelted my convoy
during my campaigns in the
Northern part of the country were
ignorant. If INEC conducts the
election poorly, it will be on my
head.”
Hate speeches and political violence
by both opposition and ruling party
members.
The president explained that “some
people” get carried away by the
political play and exude these
violence. He blamed aides and
associates of key political actors for
the hate speeches and political
violence. He did not categorically
condemn the hate speeches or war
threats or politically-motivated
violence.
“We will make sure things are done
so that nobody goes to war,” the
president said when he pressed for
categorical stance on the war
threats by ex-militants should he
lose the elections. He argues
journalists have responsibility to
ensure the unity of the country.
On why he frequents churches for
campaign but never visited mosques:
GEJ responded by saying he does
not receive invitations from
Muslims like from the churches.
If election would hold should the
military fails to eliminate Boko Haram
in six weeks:
The presidents said the new dates
are sacrosanct and a new president
would be sworn in by May 29. He
argued that the goal is not to totally
eliminate Boko Haram but to make
adequate security arrangement for
the election.
Missing Chibok girls:
Questioning moves to the issue of
the president’s perceived weak
support especially as it relates to
the missing Chibok girls. “Just give
us some times,” he said, responding
to questions seeking the state of the
girls at the moment. The president
is optimistic the girls would be
rescued with the new military
collaboration with neighbouring
countries. “I believe the story
would be different in a few weeks,”
the president said. “We would
recover them alive.”
I believe the story of Chibok Girls
will get better in the next few
weeks, but don’t quote me. We are
working with our neighbours, we
will comb the whole of that place
Partying after abduction? It’s
unfortunate that people play
politics with the issue of Chibok
girls. It’s not like that elsewhere. In
other countries, political
boundaries collapse in the face of
terror attacks, not so in Nigeria.
With regards to his weakened
political base, the president said
“in politics, there are only
permanent interests.”
The president is asked to clarify his
previous comments that “stealing is
not corruption”:
He said he made that statement
quoting the former Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Dahiru Mustafa, who
explained to him that his analysis
of corruption cases in Nigeria
showed that most of such cases
were theft. He argued that referring
to stealing as corruption minimizes
the crime. “Ole (thief in Yoruba)
should be called Ole and given that
treatment,” the president said.
“Let us communicate properly. The
word corruption, we have abused
it.”
“It is not actually my quotation. I
quoted the former Chief Justice,” as
he continues to defend his previous
comments on corruption and
stealing.
We have convicted more corrupt
people than ever. It is just that
Nigerians are confused on what the
difference is between stealing and
corruption.
The state of the N1 billion security
loan and funds confiscated in South
Africa.
He said the government have not
started disbursing the N1 billion
loan. With regards to the .3 million
arms money seized in South Africa,
he said the money does not belong
to Nigeria, technically. He added
that the matter was in court.
The president is asked if he would
hand over if he loses the next
election.
“If the elections are conducted and
I lose, of course, another president
would be sworn in,” the president
said. He argued that Nigeria is
more important than any
individual.
The president is asked what he will do
differently if he wins.
He said most of the problem he had
in the past is related to perception
and not concrete. He did not really
say what he would do differently.
The president is asked to comment on
his opponent for the 2015 general
election, Buhari.
The president responded it was an
unfair question. He however
mentioned that he has recieved
more criticism that Muhammadu
Buhari on social media.
The president is asked if he has
confidence in INEC as presidently
constituted.
He answered saying he appointed
everyone at the management level
of INEC.
Closing Remarks:
In his closing remarks, president
Jonathan assured Nigerians that
elections would be conducted and a
new president sworn in on May 29.
He argued that it is better for INEC
to conduct an election everyone
would be happy with.
Chat ended 20:19, 11th February, 2015.
