The Presidency Thursday frowned at what it described as “reckless scaremongering” reports by a section of the media, calling on media organizations to desist from such.
Presidential Media Adviser, Dr Reuben Abati in a statement denied his principal said at a Christmas Day church service that “terrorism has come to stay”, saying it is untrue and a complete mischief.
According to him, a President that has been working so hard to put an end to terrorism in Nigeria wouldn’t have also said “insurgency is far from over”. Abati said the President’s remark is verifiable.
We hereby quote relevant parts of President Jonathan’s remarks at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp Abuja.
He said, “The primate mentioned a number of issues that deal with nations which have crises.
“For those who know about terrorism, countries that are infested with terror will hardly get out of it.
“If you look at Pakistan, we even go there to train our soldiers, in some parts of Pakistan as we are even talking now, there appears to be no government So, this country could have been worse.
“Look at the incidences in Abuja, even the police headquarters was bombed. The UN building right here in the seat of government, may be the next target would have been State House.
“So, we have to thank God that we have been able to bring it to a reasonable level, though, we are far from getting through, there are a lot of challenges but we have to thank God.
“The Primate said if it were to be like Syria. Look at South Sudan too, they were part of Sudan and they felt that they were being dominated. They have resources; there is oil in parts of South Sudan. They carry arms against the state; finally the whole world through the UN liberated them.
“In fact, within this week, we will be going for a Security Council meeting on South Sudan under the African Union. My envoy just came back on Sunday from where he had a conversation with them.
“How do we stop this madness? So, we have to thank God even though we still have these security challenges in our country, at least, we are reasonably better.
The Media Adviser’s reaction reads in full, “Reports in a section of the media today which quoted President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as saying at a Christmas church service on Wednesday in Abuja that “terrorism has come to stay” in Nigeria are completely untrue and a mischievous misrepresentation of the President’s remarks.
“President Jonathan’s verifiable remarks at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp Abuja were to the effect that in comparison with some other countries which have experienced the scourge of terrorism, Nigeria has made remarkable progress in dealing with the security challenges posed by terrorism and insurgency.
“Headlines such as “Terrorism Has Come to Stay” and “Insurgency Far From Over – Jonathan” are therefore most incongruous with the thrust of the President’s remarks and amount to taking extreme editorial liberties with his comments at the church service.
“It is apparent that in their indecent haste to cast the most sensational and negative headlines, some editors never paused to consider that it would have been most absurd for a President whose administration has done so much to reverse the tide of terrorism, to publicly assert the contrary.
“While speaking at the Church where he worshiped, along with members of his family, his aides and some Ministers, President Jonathan only pointed out that whereas terrorism remains a global challenge and a source of continuing concern in some countries, Nigeria has done comparatively better in reducing the incidence of terrorist attacks within its borders to a “reasonable level”.
“Interpreting those remarks, which are clearly in tandem with facts available to all objective observers of Nigeria’s war against terrorism, as an expression of defeat or helplessness, amounts to reckless scaremongering which can only serve the purpose of needlessly instigating fear among the populace and bolstering the confidence of criminal and unpatriotic elements.
“Once again, we urge the media to eschew undue negativity and join hands with the government to patriotically promote peace, national security and political stability.
“The war against terrorism is very winnable and President Jonathan’s administration is steadily winning it in Nigeria. The Federal Government, the Armed Forces and national security agencies will continue to build on the successes they have achieved so against terrorists, insurgents and their sponsors”.
