WE WILL NAME, SHAME SPONSORS OF TERRORISM – JONATHAN
L-R: Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Prof. Bello Shehu, Minister of State for Health, Alhaji Suleiman Bello, President Goodluck Jonathan and a victim of bomb blast, during the president's visit to victims of the blast at the National Hospital, in Abuja last Saturday.
President Goodluck Jonathan has said those behind last Friday's twin attack in Abuja during the 50th anniversary celebrations that claimed lives and injured many are terrorists sponsored from outside Nigeria, vowing to name and shame them. The president, who observed a minute silence in honour of the dead at a dinner at the Marina State House annex, Lagos last Saturday, to commemorate the Jubilee celebrations, said government was on the trail of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
According to him, 'it's a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria and sponsored to carry out the evil act. We are on their trail and will ensure that until they are arrested and brought to book, we will not rest. Government will no longer condone impunity and any culprit, no matter how highly placed or connected, will not go scot free.'
The president restated that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was not responsible for the act as purported but the terrorist group was hiding under the umbrella of the movement. 'We have contacted other members of MEND and they say they know nothing about it. Anybody that hides under the umbrella of MEND to carry out those acts will soon be exposed,' he said.
In the same vein, the president assured Nigerians that irrespective of all the odds and challenges there was hope for the country and he was prepared and committed to drive the process of transformation. He further assured of his preparedness to work with all levels and arms of government to reposition the economy of the country.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, David Mark, has assured the Federal Government would get the support of the National Assembly on prompt arrest of the perpetrators and ensuring maximum sanction against them. 'Whatever may be the reason behind this, it is not acceptable. This is not time to forgive anybody behind this evil; we urge the Federal Government and we will assist them that the evil doers must get maximum sanction,' he said.
Speaking on behalf of the 36 state governors, the Akwa Ibom, Governor, Godswill Akpabio said they were prepared to support the purposeful leadership of President Jonathan.
He urged the president not to despair or get distracted by 'blackmail,' referring to the terrorists attack on Friday. 'The problem of Nigeria today was not caused by the present leaders, therefore, be strong because we know that you are God-sent to liberate the nation,' he said. The representative of the business community and Chairman of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu, noted there had been significant improvement on the nation's economy through positive steps taken by the government. Jamodu called on the government to be clear and consistent in its economic policies to move the nation forward.
He also asked for tax incentives for the private investors setting up businesses in the villages and remote parts of the country to stem rural urban migration as well as develop the areas and create employment.