By: Akeem Oyetunji President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to receive solidarity messages from world leaders who have offered to join forces with Nigerian military to defeat the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
Excited by the solidarity shown so far, President Jonathan told participants at the Plenary Session on “Unlocking job-Creating Growth” held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, that “If you have refused to come because of fear, the terrorists would have jubilated and even committed more havoc. But your coming here to support us morally is a major blow to terrorist.
On Thursday in Abuja, the President met with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle to discuss modalities for the actualization of the offer made by President Barrack Obama to assist Nigeria in rescuing the girls abducted from Chibok, Borno State.
The meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa was a follow-up to talks held yesterday between Mr. Entwistle and Nigerian security officials on the United States offer of assistance.
At the talks with the Ambassador, President Jonathan reiterated Nigeria’s appreciation of the United States offer to deploy U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation, which was conveyed to him on Tuesday by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry.
The President told Mr. Entwistle and other delegations which met separately with him at the venue of the World Economic Forum that the much greater support which Nigeria was receiving from the United States and other members of the international community in the aftermath of the Chibok abductions, will certainly help the country to rapidly overcome the Boko Haram insurgency.
Others received by President Jonathan include the President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo who brought him a message of solidarity from ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
President Mahama informed President Jonathan that to support Nigeria’s efforts to rescue the abducted girls and defeat terrorism, ECOWAS leaders have decided to invoke the community’s protocols on counter-terrorism.
The Ghanaian leader said that a meeting of Heads of Intelligence Services of ECOWAS member-countries will hold in Accra next week to work out a new framework for intelligence sharing in support of the effort to eradicate the threat of terrorism in Nigeria and the entire West African Sub-Region.
President Jonathan also had private meetings with Prof. Klaus Schwab, the Founder of the World Economic Forum who said that Nigeria deserved the maximum solidarity of the world at this trying moment.
He later met with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, former President Lula Da Silva of Brazil and the Prime Minister of Mali, Mr. Moussa Mara all of who conveyed the solidarity of their governments and people.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon also spoke with President on the phone today to convey the sympathy and solidarity of the global community with the government and people of Nigeria.
Mr. Ban Ki Moon assured President Jonathan that the United Nations was ready to help Nigeria in every possible way to rescue the abducted girls and achieve greater security of lives and property in all parts of the country.
Speaking earlier at the Plenary session on “Unlocking job-Creating Growth ” held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, President Jonathan told participants that “Nigeria is proud to host this event for the first time the conference is coming to West Africa. Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate you for accepting to come. As a nation we are facing attacks of terrorists.
“Let me appreciate you individually and collectively in your support for us, your sentiments and by your presence here in Nigeria at this time. You have already supported us to win the war on terror.
“If you have refused to come because of fear, the terrorists would have jubilated and even committed more havoc. But your coming here to support us morally is a major blow to terrorist.
“Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate all the countries that have expressed their commitment especially in terms of rescuing these girls that disappeared in one of our secondary schools.
“The government of China promised assistance and I believe that assistance will come almost immediately. The government of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have spoken with me and expressed their commitments towards resolving this crisis in Nigeria.
“I believe that the kidnapping of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria.”
Speaking in the same vein, the founder of WEF, Professor Klaus Schwab, said “We cannot allow terrorism to dictate our agenda.
“For this reason I am grateful to you because I know some of you hesitated. I am very thankful that only few people cancelled their participation. Again, I thank you for supporting these programmes”.
