The Federal Government has said that contrary to wrong perceptions over President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Kano for the Unity Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he actually attended the rally to demonstrate to terrorist sect, Boko Haram, that his government will not be paralysed by its activities.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo and most of the Ministers, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, in company of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed and Minister of State Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, said that government condemned the kidnapping of about 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, assuring that they will soon regain their freedom.
Responding to critics who said President was insensitive on terrorism issues, following his decision to attend the Unity rally in Kano, a day after the blast in Nyanya, Maku said by cancelling all his engagements on the date of the incident, he demonstrated he was not just affected by the attack but showed respect to those who lost their lives and the injured.
The Minister said Jonathan attended the rally to demonstrate to the terrorists, that they cannot cripple the activities of his government which he said was their fundamental aim.
”What terrorist want is to divide public opinion and once you divide public opinion, the terror will succeed in filling its fangs on our population. Terrorism is not our tradition, it is not our philosophy of life in this country, it is not our way of life. So what is happening is strange to who we are. A number of our children have been indoctrinated into the ideology of terror and they are participating in the terror that is being unleashed on the nation. But that does not represent the mentality, the philosophy, belief of ordinary Nigerian who is working with us to put end to this terror.
“As a nation, as a people we stand united against the evil of terrorism and all forms of criminality.
“One thing that terrorist want is to paralysis society to make sure that they keep you and I home, frustrate every normal activities of society and they will do it again and again, so that when they strike government stops and everything stops, they will be very happy.
“You will remember that on the day terrorist struck, he cancelled his trip to Ibadan and other engagements, and visited the scene personally and directed all the services to provide support. He appealed to the nation to remain united.
“Don’t forget that this pain is to the President of this country more than any other person in this nation today. And this President has suffered psychologically as a result of this criminality which terrorists carry out to distract the public, to disrupt the normal activities of government, to set people against government, so that when people die, whatever the government does people will not want to hear.
“You will notice that whenever there is any significant story, something will just come negatively. So the purpose is to demoralize, disrupt government, society and to set people against each other and create paralysis.
“So if we are to say we will do nothing because they struck then it means that terrorist would have successes in putting a stall each time they strike on our country.
“And I think going to Kano, was a loud statement that terrorist will not stop this country from moving and from working. On the day it happened, the president had already suspended all his activities and focus on it”, Maku said.
Maku said that today’s Council deliberations dwelled mostly on the reports from the Ministers of the FCT and the Ministry of Health on the Nyanya bomb blast, adding that the Council was yet to get detailed reports on the kidnapping of the girls but stated that efforts were on to set the girls free.
“The criminality of kidnapping young children is what makes the terrorism in Nigeria as one of the worse. What will they be doing with these young children if they claim that their purpose is on religious piety. Unfortunately this has happened but we will make sure that we get the children back. We will make sure that further harm is not done to these children”.
“We assure Nigerians that we will make sure that we get those girls back quickly. Our most important concern is to make sure that further harm is not done to those children. We are pushing their abductors and we will get them very soon” he said.
The Minister decried the fact that some politicians were exploiting the emotions and trauma of the people for their political gains.
“Politicians will still want to exploit even the most dark moment for political advantage and this is what we should not do. We should not be exploiting the emotions of citizens for cheap political points. People will use everything including murder, including trauma like what we have gone through to score cheap political points and this is really very sad.
“Politicians must not exploit the suffering of people just to score cheap political points. The President is in mourning and is already working with everybody and with every institution to ensure that we not only meet the needs of the living and care for those who have survived but continuously worked to perfect our security architecture to ensure greater safety of Nigerians”.
He urged Nigerians not to allow the current spate of terrorism dampen their spirit, adding that Nigeria which has existed for over 100 years, is not a nation of terrorists.
He also assured that Nigeria will continue to work with Nigeria’s neighbours including Cameroon, Chad, Niger and all the countries bordering Nigeria, in the fight against terrorism, calling for all to be vigilant.
“There is need for us to comb our environment, watch those who we live with and examine the people living with you. You should be able to report suspicious movements to the security agencies”.
Maku urged Nigerians to shun negative comments that will discourage the work of the security agencies, even as he appealed for support for the joint security operation going on in the country.
Maku debunked claims that government was insensitive to the victims of terror attacks in far away places like in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, adding that government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been responding to such attacks.
He declared that government was doing everything necessary to ensure that everywhere Nigerians are attacked, measures are taken to provide succour and relief to the victims.
Maku disclosed that President Jonathan has directed the FCT Minister to begin surveillance and provision of security around the FCT.
