The Federal Government has called for understanding from the the immense number of Nigerians concerned about the plight of the girls missing from a boarding school in Chibok for the last thirty eight days.
In a statement read to protesters united under the #bringbackourgirls campaign, President Jonathan represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide called on Nigerians to unite under the shared patriotic zeal galvanized as a result of the collective weariness of impunity in the terrorism acts being committed by Boko Haram and their sponsors.
Jonathan said, “We must be careful not to politicize the campaign against terrorism. When a bomb goes off in Kabul, Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists. When a bomb goes off in Baghdad, Iraq, the people of Iraq do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists. When a bomb goes off in Islamabad, Pakistan, the people of Pakistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists. When a bomb goes off in Nigeria, we must all unite to fight the terrorists. This is the task of this generation. Our daughters must be freed to come home to their parents and loved ones.
“Our security forces are among the best trained in Africa. They are making so much sacrifice in the fight against terror. As we sleep daily, they are in the field confronting the enemy. They need our support, not attacks and discouragement.
Jonathan reiterated that he had been working behind the scenes for quite a while to combat the scourge of terrorism plaguing the country in order to provide a better life for all Nigerians.
“Apart from those efforts in the public space, our President has personally initiated consultations with so many stakeholders, to explore alternative methods of resolving this crisis. It is wrong and most unfair to suggest that there was a slow reaction to this kidnapping. The Commander-in-Chief meets with the security chiefs almost daily, and he is also in constant consultations with regional and global partners on these terrorist threats.
“This is why I want to appeal to your group and others through this medium, that it is important that your genuine patriotic zeal is matched with a realistic understanding of the situation in expressing concern and sentiment on this matter and other matters of terrorism.
“As early as January 23rd 2013 President Jonathan at Davos, Switzerland asked the world for help in tackling terrorism. He later met with President Obama during the United Nations General Assembly in September of 2013 where he requested for U.S. support.”