“I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism,” he said in his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast in Abuja.
“I assure you … that these thugs will be driven away. It will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal,” Jonathan said.
The President explained that the full-scale operation against the terrorists had become imperative because they had unleashed war on Nigeria.
But he still did not rule out “dialogue, reconciliation” with the insurgents if they renounced terrorism and embraced peace.
Jonathan said that Nigeria’s unity, stability and the protection of lives and property were non-negotiable
At another event organised to mark the Democracy Day for youths, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna, announced that Jonathan had offered amnesty for Boko Haram members ready to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
Haruna, who gave an overview of youths’ position in the present administration’s transformation agenda at an event attended by Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said the offer was part of youths-friendly programmes and policies of the government.
The event was almost marred by power failure that happened when the President mounted the podium to present a compendium of his administration’s achievements in the last one year and answer questions from youths.
Haruna said, “President Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. A series of integration programmes have been lined up for members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace.”
He therefore called on the sect members to embrace the government’s gesture by keying into the amnesty programme.
The minister recalled that in the wake of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta, the government came up with a development programme which provided an opportunity for the youth to express themselves and have a meaningful life.
Haruna said although the amnesty programme was a fallout of a bitter national security challenge , its effect on the youth had been profound.
He disclosed that 30,000 youths that benefitted from the programme transformed from militants to wealth creators, employers of labour and skilled citizens.
Jonathan while answering questions from youths who attended the programme tagged “A day with young leaders of Nigeria,” said the military alone was incapable of stopping terrorism or any kind of radicalism alone .
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