President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said despite the violence being unleashed on the country by the violent sect, Boko Haram, Nigeria under his watch would not succumb to terrorists.
He also commended President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya for refusing to cancel his three-day state visit to Nigeria despite a terrorist attack in the country’s capital, Nairobi, on Sunday.
Jonathan spoke at a joint press conference he had with Kenyatta after a bilateral talk they had as part of activities of the Kenyan leader’s state visit.
The President described terror attacks as diversionary, arguing that terrorists attacked nations they perceived to be showing signs of progress.
He said although their aim was to set the nation back, Nigeria would overcome terrorists.
Jonathan said because he was aware that the aim of terrorists was to intimidate the people and government, they would not succeed in stopping business in Nigeria.
He commiserated with the government and people of Kenya on the Sunday incident.
He said, “I also want to use this opportunity to express the condolence of Nigeria to government of Kenya on the last terror attack. For us in Nigeria, we have been experiencing these dastardly acts for sometimes now.
“Kenya is beginning to experience it. We have to appreciate the courage expressed by the president for not aborting the state visit and the invitation to the World Economic Forum because of the attack. Its a clear signal from here that the attack will not stop us from moving forward.
“The act of terror in Africa is diversionary being organised by a group of people that does not want the continent to move forward.
“Whenever a country is showing any sign of progress, these criminal elements will strike.
“Yes, they are setting us backward, they are slowing us down, they are killing innocent citizens, they are destroying properties but surely we will overcome and terror will not stop Africa from progressing.
“The terror attack is naturally to frighten people but as governments, we will do our best to make sure that we provide maximum protection for our citizens.”
Kenyatta on his part also condoled Jonathan and all Nigerians over attacks being unleashed on the country by those he described as cowardly terrorists.
He said although Kenya lost a number of its nationals in the Sunday incident in Nairobi with many others injured, he decided to go ahead with the state visit to show that terrorists could not derail his government.
