Jonathan doing his best - Gowon

A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its bid to tackle security challenges in the country, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Gowon made the call late on Friday in Lagos while speaking with newsmen after chairing a dinner and award night organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.

He condemned the reports credited to some foreign media that President Goodluck Jonathan was not doing enough to address insecurity.

'I can tell you this and I know this, the president is doing his best and do not listen to the sort of news you hear from foreign press talking as if the government is doing nothing.

'He is in consultation with the military chiefs, he is in consultation with all the governors and all the political parties to be able to join hands to deal with this problem,' said Gowon, who prosecuted the Nigerian civil war.

The elder statesman said the government needed time to effectively deal with the Boko Haram insurgency and bring the conflict to an end.

He added, 'No matter how weak your opponent is, it is going to take time to be able to resolve the issues which led to the conflict.

'It took us about two-and-a-half years to end the civil war but what is important is how you end it and how you are able to reconcile and get things back to normal.'

Also speaking, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, commended lawyers for partnering with the state government toward creating more access to justice for indigent citizens.