Revealed: What Jonathan Told US Secretary Of State, John Kerry

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured

all stakeholders including the United States of

America that the May 29 handover date was

sacrosanct.



He gave the assurance amidst calls by some

individuals including the National Security

Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), for the

postponement of the February general elections.

According to a statement released by his Special

Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,

the President gave the assurance during a

closed-door meeting he had with the United

States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, at the

State House, Marina.



The statement was signed personally by the

President.

He said he had what he called “a candid and

constructive discussion” about a broad range of

issues with his guest.



He said he emphasised to Kerry that he was

deeply committed to ensuring that the elections

were free, fair and credible.



He added that he also promised his guest that

his government would provide all resources

required by the Independent National Electoral

Commission to conduct hitch-free elections.



Jonathan said, “I emphasised to Secretary Kerry

that I am deeply committed to ensuring that our

forthcoming election is free, fair, and credible.

“It is especially critical that all political parties

abide by the Abuja Accord, which commits each

to non-violence before, during, and after the

election.



“I made it absolutely clear that the May 29th

handover date is sacrosanct.

“In addition, the government will provide all

resources that are required by the Independent

National Electoral Commission to ensure that the

election goes smoothly.



“I also emphasised that INEC is an independent

body, which makes its own decisions without any

interference from the government.”



The President said he was grateful to the US for

standing with Nigeria and its people in the

nation’s fight against Boko Haram.



He said he reaffirmed his administration’s

commitment to working together with the US to

put an end to global terrorism and particularly

Boko Haram.



He promised that Nigeria would also work to

deepen and consolidate its bilateral relationship

with the US.



The President described Nigeria as a vibrant

democracy and the largest trading partner of the

US in Africa with over $18bn in bilateral trade.

He noted that the two countries and peoples

shared a mutual admiration for one another and

a deep commitment to freedom, democracy, and

human rights.



This, he explained, was why the two countries

were jointly engaged in a struggle against “a

common enemy that promotes terror, fear,

division, and violates human rights, most

especially of women and girls, with complete

impunity.”



The President added, “Winning the fight against

Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa is

absolutely essential to beat back the tide of

religious extremism around the world.



“Our security forces have been working tirelessly

and courageously to achieve this goal.



“I reaffirmed for Secretary Kerry that Nigeria is

strongly committed to building the multinational

task force to fight Boko Haram in partnership

with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic

under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin

Commission.



“Indeed, I called publicly for such a regional

approach at the African leaders’ summit in Paris

in May 2014 and more recently in multilateral

meetings.



“We are pleased that the international community

is now strongly united behind this initiative and

agree that its success is critical.



“It is equally important that the multinational

force receives the significant support that is

required to address the threat through our global

partners.



“The United States, more than any other country

in the world, has the most experience fighting

armed insurgencies.



“And having suffered the devastating attacks of

9/11, its people also understand the insecurity

and fear that is the reality for the vast majority

of peaceful, tolerant Muslims and Christians in

north eastern Nigeria.”



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