Borno: PDP Okays Jonathan's Position On JTF
SAN FRANCISCO, March 10, (THEWILL) - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given President Goodluck Jonathan a pat on the back for his position on the withdrawal of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State.
During his visit to the crisis-ridden state last week, Jonathan had told the Borno elders that the JTF would only be withdrawn from the state if they commit to an undertaking that makes them responsible for further killings and destruction by the Boko Haram sect.
In its endorsement of the president’s position on the matter, the leadership of PDP, in a statement issued, Sunday, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the position of President Jonathan clearly shows his forthrightness and great concern for the safety of Nigerians, including those living in Borno and other troubled spots in the country.
It added that Jonathan and the PDP fully understand and deeply share in the worries of Borno elders on the imperative of cessation of violence and restoration of peace in order to enable social and economic activities.
The party also hailed the President for what it described as his well thought-out humane approach in handling the situation, congratulating him for the successes recorded so far by the country’s security agencies.
" We commend the President for his humane approach and for his unrelenting commitment to the improved welfare of Nigerians.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fully aligns with the challenge of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Bornu elders on their responsibility vis a vis the withdrawal of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) .
“The position of the President shows his forthrightness and intense fatherly concern for the safety of all Nigerians living in Borno State and other troubled spots in the country. This is a direct challenge to all of us, especially those from the troubled areas to rise to the occasion and re-engage dispassionate avuncular responsibilities in genuine search for peace.
“Our great party understands and deeply shares in the worries of the Borno elders over the protracted insurgency in the region and its grave implications for social and economic activities. However, we deem it necessary that the elders accept this challenge and reflect in-depth on their preeminent position as a cardinal portal of peace as connoted in the assertion by the President," the party said.
While commending Jonathan for the heart-to-heart discussion with elders of Bornu and Yobe States and for sparing time to visit some orphanages in the two states during his visit, the party described the gestures as an indication of his concern for vulnerable Nigerians.
"The President was not in Bornu and Yobe for photo-ops and showmanship as did the governors of the opposition APC who cooed in the streets of Maiduguri and boasted in the media to invite attention to themselves. The President was on a genuine mission for peace and development," the statement said.
Expressing the strong belief that the efforts of the Jonathan administration will succeed in checking the security challenges as witnessed by the successes already recorded by the security agencies, PDP further appealed to those behind the violent attacks in the country to have a rethink, saying "Life is sacrosanct and nobody has the right to shed innocent blood under any guise."