The Presidential Media Chat held yesterday, with President Jonathan, answering array of questions, ranging from the unrelenting terror campaign of Boko Haram, the suspension of Sanusi Lamido, as CBN Governor to Nigeria’s centenary celebration.
We give you a near minute-by-minute encounter.
Question: Is there no other strategy to stop Boko haram violence?
Answer: They are not forthcoming. Immediately a group of people get into terror activities, they get brain-washed. They connect with other terror organisations. In the case of Niger-Delta, you can identify them, and when in my time as deputy gov, the leaders came for meetings, even in the state house, Abuja.
Question: Whay can’t we stop this (Boko Haram) using intelligent gathering?
Answer: Other security agencies are involved. Terror fighting the worl over is not easy
Question: Is there no need to strategise anti-terrorism campaign in the north-east?
Answer: Boko Haram bombings started in Abuja here. It is quite worrisome. We are working with the Cameroonian authorities to stop this. We shall get over it.
Question: What about the directive on the subsidy on Kerosene?
Is it that somebody disobeyed the presidential directive? Answer: Labour leaders advised that we should not withdraw the subsidy on kerosene beacause of the drop in the price of crude oil. So there was never a time when the subsidy on Kerosene was removed.
Question: Why is the indicted Deputy Gov not also suspended?
Answer: No one has convicted Sanusi. You cannot suspend everybody. For now, the report affects the head
Question: Does the government have any plan to prosecute Sanusi?
Answer: Govt doe not work that way. When an allegation is made, govt will place you on interdiction. It is only when you are indicted that you can be prosecuted. If Sanusi does not have a case to answer , it’s ok. Prosecution can only come in if a clear case of fraud is established.
Question: What happened to the $120bn that Sanusi alleged is missing?
Answer: We were all alarmed when he said $49.8bn was missing. I don’t know which figure to believe, the $49.8bn or the $20bn. Whatever we do, we must follow due process and rule of law. Sanusi’s suspension has nothing to do with what is happening now, not because of any whistle blowing. The first query to him was in february 2013.
Answer (On Sanusi): The successor will not resume until June, but we want to assure the international community that the succession is in progress. Some of the comment on the issue are not neccessary. They should stop. It will not take long. They should allow the FRC to work.
Question: Why did it take so long to deal with the issue (Sanusi)?
Answer: When dealing with the treasury of a nation, you have to be very careful and consult widely. it is the opinion of the Financial council of Nigeria that forms the basis of Sanusi’s suspension and had to issue a query to him.
Question: Do you have the power to suspend the CBN governor?
Answer: I have absolute power to suspend the CBN governor. Sanusi is still the CBN governor. He can come back tommorrow. The CBN act is somehow anomalous. To remove him, i have to go to the senate, but not to suspend him.
Question: When are you going to declare your interest in contesting the 2015 election?
Answer: The political tension is high already, I don’t want to raise it. At the appointed time, you will know.
Question: Do you have the power to suspend the CBN governor?
Answer: I have absolute power to suspend the CBN governor. Sanusi is still the CBN governor. He can come back tommorrow. The CBN act is somehow anomalous. To remove him, i have to go to the senate, but not to suspend him.
Question: When are you going to declare your interest in contesting the 2015 election?
Answer: The political tension is high already, I don’t want to raise it. At the appointed time, you will know.
Question: You have been going round to see traditional rulers and religious leaders. Are you saying you will run in 2015?
Answer:Even if im not contesting election, I will lead the party to victory. I am the leader of the party. (The president did not answer the question)
Question: On the representation at the national conference.
Answer: Not every interest can be represented. NBA is a key component of the conference. Whoever represents NBA is conveying the mandate of the institution. PDP and APC, the dominant parties, are represented while other parties and women lawyers are also represented.
Question: Will the conference take care of all issues in view of the short time that you have?
Answer: I don’t want to dictate. Our time is very short, so the committee will deliberate on the contending issues.
Question: Are you afraid the nation may break up?
Answer: If there are issues to correct, let us correct them as we move into the second centenary.
National Conference: FG will announce the Chairman & Secretary of the conference on March 3, while the inauguration will be on March 10.
Question – National Conference: many have asked why the unity of Nigeria is a no-go area.
Answer: There is no president that will preside over the disintegration of a nation. The committee that fashioned out the recommendation for the conference said only one person suggested that Nigeria should not stay together.
Question: When is the Centenary city taken off?
Has the money been appropriated? Answer: It has not taken off. The government is not spending anything on the Centenary city. The private sectors will.
Question: Centenary celebration: What is the criteria for choosing awardees?
It is to celebrate unity, why we have to stay together. 100 people to be given awards. Criteria are Sports, industry, pioneering efforts, academics, history etc. To recognise that when you do something significant, the country can appreciate your effort
The CBN Act may be amended but it must be in conformity with international law – GEJ
Power Privatisation
The problem we have is a case of sabotage. People blowing up gas pipelines. People will get over the initial problems from government control to private sector control – GEJ
Military Administrator to Borono
I’m not aware that anybody or Goodluck Jonathan is sending a military administrator to Borno state. – GEJ
Motivation and weapons of the military against Boko Haram
The statement of the governor of Borno state is unfortunate. I can withdraw the military from Borno state and let us see what happens. – GEJ