President Goodluck Jonathan has complained at the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu that his administration has achieved a lot but that regretting that the ongoing Boko Haram violent campaign is taking attention away from such achievements.
In continuation of his nationwide campaign for re-election, President told the Emir and other members of the Bauchi Traditional Council that his administration will soon put an end to the insurgency.
Jonathan said that his government had worked hard to reposition agriculture, promising that if re- elected, he will work with Bauchi leaders to develop the abundant mineral resources in the state as part of measures to diversify the country’s economy away from crude oil.
“When we moved round in 2011, we got massive support from you and since then, we have been working hard to justify your support. Insha Allahu, we will also succeed this time.
“The unfortunate Boko Haram excesses are taking attention away from our numerous achievements. Everybody wants security, everybody wants to be safe and to be able to move freely. I am therefore assuring you that we will bring the situation to a reasonable degree and will eventually end it very soon.
“We have worked very hard to improve agriculture and ended decades of fertilizer scam. We want Nigerian farmers to crop three times a year.
“We are thinking of different options to fully diversify our economy due to the fall in the global price of oil and Bauchi is one of the states we will tap into its solid mineral potentials.”
The Emir thanked Jonathan for the respect and love he has for the traditional institution.
He also commended his efforts on the ongoing efforts to end insurgency in the northeast, expressing hope that the missing Chibok school girls will be found soon.
He commended the President’s commitment to free and fair elections as well as the Abuja peace pact, adding that the pact will make Nigerians enbrace peace and avoid acrimony.
He told the President to bear in mind that only God gives power and He alone gives it anytime he wishes.
“We appreciate your love and respect to the traditional institution. Only God gives power, anytime He wishes. I urge you and other candidates for different offices to bear this in mind in your campaigns. Politicians should work towards making Nigeria a stronger regional and sub regional force.
“I encourage and commend you on the efforts you are making on the issue of insecurity and we are hoping and praying that our Chibok girls will be out soon.
“We also appreciate your expressed commitment to free and fair elections and the signing of the Abuja Peace accord as it will encourage our people to embrace peace instead of acrimony.”
The President was accompanied to the palace by Vice President Namadi Sambo, National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali, Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed and many other party leaders.
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