Boko Haram ‘will not stop Nigeria from moving’ – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said that terrorists will not stop Nigeria from progressing.

The President also reassured Nigerians and the international community that the country would soon get over terrorism. He said Nigeria would continue to go from strength to strength.


Mr. Jonathan was speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, unity rally which was held at Polo ground in Kano. The rally was held to receive a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, into the ruling party.

The President expressed condolences to the families of victims of the early Monday bomb blast at a motor park in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, which claimed no fewer than 71 lives with over 124 people injured.

In a seeming reference to his decision to attend Tuesday’s rally despite Monday’s explosion, Mr. Jonathan said the main plan of the terrorists is to halt governance, adding that they have failed as his administration would not succumb to terror.

“Let me emphasise that terror will not stop Nigeria from moving. The terrorists and those sponsoring them will not stop this country from moving.

“This country will continue to move from strength to strength. We will continue to do our best to make sure we live peacefully in this country,” he said.

The President described Mr. Shekarau as a good man and a man of the people, and urged party members to continue to support, project, and follow him.

“Shekarau is a man of the people, a man Kano people should follow, a true Nigerian. I thank Shekarau for joining the PDP today and he is fully welcome”.

An elated Mr. Shekarau, who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the unity rally as “an occasion for democracy and an occasion for choice”.

The former governor promised to continue to be loyal to the PDP and the Jonathan administration.
“Mr. President, I wish to pledge my commitment and that of other members who made the choice to join the PPD with me,” he said.

Mr. Shekarau thanked the President for the various federal projects that have been completed and are currently ongoing in Kano State. He promised to continue to re-dedicate his life to the service of the people and called on the president to do more for Kano residents, especially in agriculture.

Other speakers at the rally, including the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, expressed solidarity with the President.

They urged party members and Nigerians to continue to support the Jonathan administration in the fight against terrorism so that the terrorists could be defeated.

The rally was attended by party chieftains, ministers, and other top government functionaries.