Boko Haram menace: More top security officers to go – Jonathan

More security top officials may be removed as we continue with re-organisation and reposition of our security agencies in order to tackle the mance of the Boko Haram sect in the country”, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said It will be recalled that the President has just removed the National Security Adviser (NSA) Andrew Azazi and Defence Minister Haliru Mohammed Bello. He noted that security remained on the front burner of his administration, stressing that this country is “in a trying period”. Jonathan who spoke at the opening of Senate 2012 Retreat, with the theme: “The National Assembly and National Security: Securing the Future for Development” in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital pleaded that the stifling situation should not
be politicised. Jonathan said it is unfortunate that politics has become a major source of insecurity as shown in the “do-or-die politics” of some politicians. He particularly referred to “bitter and inflammatory statements emanating from some politicians”, which “have recent times in the history of this country consumed thousands of innocent lives”. “Now is the time for us to reclaim our prosperity. We must not play politics with everything particularly on sensitive matters of National Security. “This is a trying period for all of us. Nigerians deserve a country that is peaceful and secure. “As elected leaders, our primary responsibility is to protect all our citizenry and those who come here to work and visit. “As food security is necessary, we want national security. We are committed to fiscal responsibility and consolidation. “We recognised that we have several challenges, including terrorism, which undermines our national security. “The Senate needs a body of all political parties to work to elevate national security above politics. “We have experienced militancy in the oil producing areas in the South, kidnapping and cyber crimes in our country. “Unfortunately, politics has become a major source of insecurity as evidenced in the do-or-die politics of some politicians. “The root cause of this menace is weak moral foundations, poverty, dirty politics, poor governance, unemployment and fanatism.Whatever may be the cause, the solution lies in stronger union.” The President went philosophical. He said: “If God didn’t will it, we will not be together today as a country of Christians, Moslems and traditionalists. “If God didn’t will it, we will not be together as people of ethnic groups. If God didn’t will it, we will not be Nigerians of today. “Our unity is the will of God. Those who want to weaken us use axes but we’ve refused to be weakened. “Let us unite to defeat the forces of darkness. Let us unite to prosper. We must work together to achieve our national security objectives. “Although our system of brotherliness rests on separation of powers among the three arms of government, this principle doesn’t call for working in silence. It calls for synergy and modality of purpose. “Our country has walked a difficult road since our independence in 1960 but make no mistake Nigeria is moving forward.” Speaking on corruption, he noted that governance requires that the government must continue to tackle the menace at all levels. The President noted that the executive and legislative arms of the government must continue to work together to fight corruption. Jonathan said the government has over the past one year intensified the security system and has carefully studied the activities of terrorists around the continent. He added that “I believe through the support of our legislature we will bring the menace of Boko Haram to an end.” Jonathan urged the National Assembly to review laws that would make it easier to track down terrorists and duly punish them. Speaking on budget, he said that national budget should always be seen as Nigerian budget and not executive budget. He noted that it was only when annual budget was seen as a fiscal estimate meant to better the lives of Nigerians that its implementation would be easy. He said: “I want to appeal to the National Assembly, we don’t need to quarrel over the budget; the budget is for Nigeria.”
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