Jonathan to Kerry: May 29 handover is sacrosanct Category: News Published on Sunday, 25 January 2015 19:08 Written by Isiaka Wakili Hits: 4928 Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday told the United States Secretary of State John F. Kerry that the May 29 handover in Nigeria is sacrosanct. Jonathan, in statement he personally signed, said this was part of a candid and constructive discussion about a broad range of issues he had with Kerry at the State House, Marina, Lagos on Sunday. The president, in a statement which was later made available to State House journalists by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, said it was a pleasure to welcome Kerry to Nigeria. The statement partly read: 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. Jonathan said he also told Kerry that the Federal Government would provide all resources required by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the forthcoming 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 said he also told Kerry that Nigeria is a vibrant democracy and the largest trading partner of the United States in Africa with more than $18 billion in bilateral trade. He said: Our countries and peoples share a mutual admiration for each other and a deep commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights. This is why we are together 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 also told Kerry that winning the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa was absolutely essential to beat back the tide of religious extremism around the world, saying Nigerias security forces had been working tirelessly and courageously to achieve this goal. The statement further read: 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 multi-lateral 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. This is why I firmly believe that enhancing and expanding various channels of cooperation between our two countries, in the context of growing international coordination, are of the utmost importance. I discussed a number of ideas with Secretary Kerry to move such cooperation forward. We are grateful to the United States for standing with Nigeria and its people in our fight against Boko Haram. I reaffirmed our strong commitment to working together with the United States to put an end to global terrorism and particularly Boko Haram. Nigeria will also work to deepen and consolidate our bilateral relationship with the United States.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:27:53 +0000