When Jonathan campaigned in Boko Haram camp
election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, weekend took his campaigns to Borno
State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Jonathan, who was on his second visit to the state
within two weeks reassured the people of Borno and
the North-East sub region that his administration will
do everything possible to end the activities of the
terrorists and restore peace in the country.
He
claimed he had fulfilled the promises he made to
Nigerians during his 2011 campaigns and that if re-
elected in the February 14 general elections, more
policies and programmes aimed at transforming the
lives of the people through job creation, women and
youth empowerment and agricultural revolution will
top his priority.
Jonathan spoke during a rally at the Ramat Square
Maiduguri, the state capital.
The President had before addressing the mammoth
crowd of PDP supporters solicited a minute silence in
respect of those killed by the insurgency.
Jonathan arrived Maiduguri International Airport at
about 1:30 pm amid tight security accompanied by
PDP national stalwarts including Director General of
his campaign organization, Dr. Ahmadu Ali among
others. He drove straight to the Shehu of Borno's
palace, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn-Garbai El- Kanemi where
he paid homage and equally condoled with the
monarch over the unfortunate incidents perpetrated
by Boko Haram sect, and assured that very soon,
peace will be restored in the state.
Ending the Boko Haram insurgency
The President attributed the delay in rescuing the
abducted Chibok girls to external forces, promising
that his administration would do everything possible
to end the Boko Haram insurgency in a matter of
months.
After ending the Boko Haram insurgency, he said his
administration would rebuild the affected areas,
worshipping places, business centres/shops and
schools destroyed by the insurgents and create job
opportunities for the teaming youths.
Jonathan said that with the use of initiatives like
Victim Support Fund, Presidential Initiative for North-
east, Safe School Initiative as well as increased
budgetary allocation, his administration will rebuild
and redesign Borno State in a way that children will
have access to education and better future. His
words: "We feel the pain of Borno people. I
personally feel more pained when people accuse me
of being involved in the problem for some political
advantage. I have said it many times that my
ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. And
I don't think any president or human being can do
what they accuse me of doing."
"The Boko Haram problem is what I thought we
would have ended long ago but may be external
influence or interest is affecting us. I am assuring you
however that it won't take us more than a few months
to end this insurgency and restore peace in Borno.
Our people must return to their communities. Insha
Allah, we will get our Chibok girls back."
The president noted that millions of Nigerians had
been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and
many other citizens of the country were taking refuge
in Niger and Cameroon, saying: "The idea of
Nigerians thinking that the Boko Haram insurgency
was a political thing promoted by my administration
was totally wrong because politics can never be
worth of the blood of any Nigerian. I feel pained
because it is not something you can handle yourself
unless you use the security operatives.
"However, Nigerians must be rest assured that my
government will end the Boko Haram and the people
will go back home. We will continue to give our
support to the Internally Displaced Persons through
the Victims Support Fund Intervention to ease
hardship of the people.''
Jonathan also promised to embark on relevant
projects that would impact on the lives of the people
in the state as soon the insurgency ends.
According to him, the Federal Government would
commit $1bn (N215bn) to replace basic and social
amenities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency in
the state.
Earlier, Ibn-Garbai said that Borno was known as a
home of peace and hoped that the challenges facing
the state would be a thing of the past soon.
He appealed to Jonathan to install the 330KVA power
line from Gombe, complete the abandoned federal
housing project as well as the Biu Dam.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to
consider reopening the Maiduguri International
Airport.
Securing lives and property
The leader of the PDP in the state and Minister of
State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, in his welcome
address congratulated the president and his
entourage for shaming his enemies and coming to
Borno State.
Wakil said, the federal government has done a lot of
achievements in the state in terms of Power
generations, securing lives and property and the
restoration of the 333 KVA transmission lines that
was vandalized by terrorists along Biu- Damboa-
Maiduguri 185km road.
Wakil assured the President that the people of Borno
are strongly behind him to ensure the victory of PDP
at the state and National level.
Another leader of the PDP in the state, former
governor Ali Modu Sheriff promised that he and his
teaming supporters are ever ready to support the
PDP to victory.
Sheriff informed the President and his entourage that
the ruling party in the state, All Progressives
Congress (APC) under Governor Kashim Shettima will
not get 20 per cent of the votes in the state because
the present administration has failed the people,
leaving them in abject poverty.
PDP Governorship Candidate in the state, Alhaji
Mohammed Imam, encouraged the electorate to
come out en mass and vote PDP to save the state and
the country from its economic decay.
Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo who
represented other PDP governors from the North
East sympathised with the people of the state and the
North-East zone for the unfortunate killings and
destruction of property by insurgents, and prayed
God to restore peace in the country.
He solicited support from all party supporters and
the people of the region to rally round PDP and
ensure victory as the opposition APC and their so -
called leaders seeking power desperately have
nothing to offer Nigerians.
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