Gowon defends Jonathan's handling of security, flays attacks by foreign media

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has come to the defence of President Goodluck Jonathan over growing attacks especially by foreign media on the president's handling of security situation in the country.

Gowon dissed  reports that President Goodluck Jonathan is not doing enough to tackle security challenges in the country.

The former head of state who was fielding questions from newsmen after he chaired a dinner and award night organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos at the weekend, said Jonathan was doing enough to address the nation's lingering insecurity.

According to him, '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.

Gowon implored Nigerians to support the federal government in its bid to make the country safe said the government needed time to effectively deal with the Boko Haram insurgency and bring the conflict to an end.

He said, '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 be able 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.'

The elder statesman urged political parties to stop trading blames or use the present situation in the country to their own advantage.

According to him, it was the duty of the media to ensure that the people understood the problems, adding that the media should also let the people know that those involved were doing their best to deal with the situation

Gowon also urged lawyers to fight all forms of injustice in the country.

He said, 'I enjoin you to defend the cause of all classes of men but more so, the downtrodden and ensure that the last hope of the common man is not dashed.

'You must fight injustice in the society without allowing monetary gains to cloud your sense of judgment.'

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