Jonathan blames insurgency on corrupted values, ignorance

The president, in a broadcast yesterday to mark Nigeria’s centenary, said his administration will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from Nigeria.“My dear compatriots, as we celebrate our centenary, the security situation in some of our North-Eastern States, sadly remains a major concern for us. Just yesterday, […]

The president, in a broadcast yesterday to mark Nigeria’s centenary, said his administration will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from Nigeria.
“My dear compatriots, as we celebrate our centenary, the security situation in some of our North-Eastern States, sadly remains a major concern for us. Just yesterday, young students, full of hopes and dreams for a great future, were callously murdered as they slept in their college dormitories in Yobe State. I am deeply saddened by their deaths and that of other Nigerians at the hands of terrorists. Our hearts go out to their parents and relatives, colleagues and school authorities.
“We will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from our country.  We recognise that the root cause of militancy, terrorism and insurgency is not the strength of extremist ideas but corrupted values and ignorance.
“That is why our counter-terrorism strategy is not just about enforcing law and order as we have equipped our security forces to do. It also involves expanding economic opportunities, social inclusion, education and other measures that will help restore normalcy not just in the short term, but permanently.
“I want to reassure Nigerians that terrorism, strife and insecurity in any part of Nigeria are abhorrent and unacceptable to us. I urge leaders throughout Nigeria to ensure that ethnicity and religion are not allowed to become political issues.”
Jonathan who commended the armed forces for sacrificing to keep Nigeria united and national leaders who did much to build Nigeria in the past hundred years called on Nigerians to do more for the youths.
He said the upcoming National Conference is to provide the platform “to confront our challenges” even as he described as a nation of the future with potentials to be a great, prosperous nation.