2015: Jonathan Meets Kerry, Pledges Free, Fair Polls
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has told visiting United States
Secretary of State, John Kerry, that he is deeply committed to ensuring a
free and fair elections in the February General elections.
Jonathan also sought for corporation and support from the U.S for the
multi-national forces fighting the Boko Haram terrorist group, saying,
“Winning the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa is
absolutely essential to beat back the tide of religious extremism around
the world.”
Below is the statement by President Jonathan to the U.S Secretary of State:
Statement by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Regarding Meeting With U.S.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry
It was a pleasure to welcome Secretary John Kerry to Nigeria. We had a
candid and constructive discussion about a broad range of issues.
Nigeria is a vibrant democracy and the largest trading partner of the
United States in Africa, with more than $18 billion in bilateral trade.
Our countries and peoples share a mutual admiration for each other and a
deep commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights.
This is why we are together engaged in a struggle against a common enemy
that promotes terror, fear, division, and violates human rights, most
especially of women and girls, with complete impunity. Winning the fight
against Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa is absolutely essential to
beat back the tide of religious extremism around the world.
Our security forces have been working tirelessly and courageously to
achieve this goal. I reaffirmed for Secretary Kerry that Nigeria is
strongly committed to building the multinational task force to fight Boko
Haram in partnership with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic under
the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Indeed, I called publicly
for such a regional approach at the African leaders summit in Paris in May
2014 and more recently in multilateral meetings.
We are pleased that the international community is now strongly united
behind this initiative and agree that its success is critical. It is
equally important that the multinational force receives the significant
support that is required to address the threat through our global
partners.
The United States, more than any other country in the world, has the most
experience fighting armed insurgencies. And having suffered the
devastating attacks of 9/11, its people also understand the insecurity and
fear that is the reality for the vast majority of peaceful, tolerant
Muslims and Christians in North Eastern Nigeria.
This is why I firmly believe that enhancing and expanding various channels
of cooperation between our two countries, in the context of growing
international coordination, are of the utmost importance. I discussed a
number of ideas with Secretary Kerry to move such cooperation forward.
We are grateful to the United States for standing with Nigeria and its
people in our fight against Boko Haram. I reaffirmed our strong
commitment to working together with the United States to put an end to
global terrorism and particularly Boko Haram. Nigeria will also work to
deepen and consolidate our bilateral relationship with the United States.
I emphasized to Secretary Kerry that I am deeply committed to ensuring
that our forthcoming election is free, fair, and credible. It is
especially critical that all political parties abide by the Abuja Accord,
which commits each to non-violence before, during, and after the election.
I made it absolutely clear that the May 29th handover date is sacrosanct.
In addition, the Government will provide all resources that are required
by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the
election goes smoothly. I also emphasized that INEC is an independent
body, which makes its own decisions without any interference from the
Government.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 25, 2015
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