ABUJA — CHAIRMAN, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has urged Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic groups, tribe, geo-political zones, religion or political affiliations, to unite behind President Goodluck Jonathan and security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency that had continually engaged in massive killing and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country.
In a three-page statement he personally signed, yesterday, in Abuja, Chief Anenih, described Boko Haram as a threat to Nigeria and democracy.
President Goodluck Jonathan right his wife Dame Patience Jonathan and chief Tony Anenih at Chief Tony Anenih Thanks 80th birthday Giving Church Service in Abuja ON SUNDAY 4th Augut 2013
President Goodluck Jonathan right his wife Dame Patience
Jonathan and chief Tony Anenih
He, however, lampooned those calling for Jonathan’s resignation over the recent abduction of over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents, saying they were unpatriotic.
He said the President had done well within the limits of constitutional powers in addressing the problem of terrorism.
Anenih also called on opposition politicians to learn from the Westgate shopping mall killings in Kenya where the opposition leader, Rahila Odinga, stood right behind President Uhuru Kenyatta while the latter was addressing Kenyans on the dastardly attack.
He also recalled how the people of America and Great Britain closed ranks and rallied support for their respective governments in the aftermath of al-Qaeda deadly attacks on their nations, pointing out that in none of these cases did the citizens call on their President or prime minister to resign.
Commending the United Nations’ solidarity and collaboration by France, United States of America and Great Britain with Nigeria and her Francophone neighbours, including Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin Republic, Anenih declared that no President of Nigeria could have done better than President Jonathan within the ambits of his constitutional powers.
Anenih said: “At a time that our nation is facing the menace of terrorism, it is of utmost importance that all Nigerians, irrespective of their regional, religious or political affiliations, should be united in supporting the Federal Government and all the security agencies in the fight to end terror in our country.
“As a father, I deeply sympathise with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls and pray for their safe return. No parent should have to experience what the parents of these innocent girls are passing through on account of this outrageous abduction by Boko Haram.
“I also understand the anger that has been expressed through the global ‘BringBackOurGirls movement and wish to state that President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are fully committed to ensuring the safe return of our daughters.
”I must, however, deplore the situation where some opposition politicians have tried to make political issues out of it by calling for the resignation of President Jonathan over a group that is waging war against the Nigerian state. Such behaviour is unbecoming of patriotic citizens of a democratic nation like Nigeria.
“When militant gunmen attacked a shopping mall in Kenya, killing many people and holding many others hostage, the opposition leader, Rahila Odinga, stood right beside the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, while the latter was addressing Kenyans on the dastardly attack.
“We are all witnesses to the fact that when al-Qaeda attacked the United States of America and the United Kingdom, citizens of those countries, irrespective of political affiliations, closed ranks and supported their respective Governments in their fight against the perpetrators of terror. In these specific cases, political opponents did not ask their President/ Prime minister to resign.
“Boko Haram is a threat to Nigeria and to our democracy. Nobody is more aware of this fact than President Jonathan. That is why the President is doing all that is within his constitutional powers to fight the terrorist group.
“It is his respect for constitutionalism that has kept him from employing jack-boot methods. I make bold to say that no president of Nigeria could have done better within the ambits of constitutional powers!
“Unfortunately, certain comments I have heard or read in recent times from some Nigerians who ought to know better, make me wonder if they expect the President to put on a helmet, pick up a rifle and personally march into Sambisa Forest. I ask: where in the world does a President do that?
“I am also amazed that some Nigerians have forgotten so soon that President Jonathan has replaced service chiefs twice since he assumed office in a bid to bolster the operational efficiency of the military.
“Fighting terrorism is a unique kind of confrontation, unlike conventional warfare where enemy targets are easy to identify. In this respect, we must differentiate between the Boko Haram insurgency and the Niger Delta militancy. “Whereas, the Niger Delta militants were known persons, the Boko Haram insurgents are faceless.
“It was because the individuals involved in the Niger Delta militancy were known that some of us, including President Jonathan (who was then Vice President), were able to engage them in negotiations that led to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Negotiations of this sort are difficult in the Boko Haram case.
“All over the world, fighting terrorism takes time and requires patience, cooperation and national unity.
“There is no doubt that there are challenges, but it is disheartening that some Nigerians are unsupportive of President Jonathan’s genuine efforts in the war against Boko Haram, even when nations such as France, United States of America and Great Britain have been collaborating with Nigeria and her Francophone neighbours (Chad, Niger, Benin Republic and Cameroon) in search of a solution to the crisis.
“The Boko Haram insurgency is not against Jonathan as an individual, rather it is against the Nigerian state.
That is why our collective efforts are needed to tackle the challenges. In this respect, the military needs assistance, especially vital information from the citizenry, to work with.
“I, therefore, urge all Nigerians to stand united behind President Jonathan, the Federal Government and the security agencies in this fight against terror. The message to Boko Haram from all Nigerians must be: We will never bow to terror!”
“President Jonathan has said it several times that in fighting Boko Haram, the Federal Government is dealing with fellow Nigerians, who are brothers and sisters. Consequently, the military cannot deploy its full might against them. Besides, doing so would be against international rules of engagement. We must be tactful not to allow the insurgents to use our children as shields.
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