Vows To Rescue Kidnapped Chibok Girls-- Jonathan Addresses Rally In Maiduguri

President Goodluck Jonathan campaigning in Maiduguri 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan and his campaign team held a rally today in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party vowing that he would ensure that more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok are rescued. 

Mr. Jonathan’s arrival in Maiduguri, the biggest city in the terror-plagued northeast area of Nigeria, led to the closure of several major roads to vehicles as early as 8 a.m. Some residents openly criticized the timing of the closure of roads on a Saturday even though the president arrived in Maiduguri about 1:30 p.m. 

On arrival at the airport, the president headed for the palace of the Shehu of Borno, the area’s traditional ruler. He arrived at Ramat Square, the venue of the rally, at 2:10 p.m.

Mr. Jonathan told a campaign crowd estimated at several thousand people that he would do everything to end the Boko Haram insurgency if re-elected. He admitted the low turn out at the campaign ground, noting that it was understood.

President Jonathan assured the rally that the Chibok girls would soon be reunited with their parents, adding that the rehabilitation of victims of Islamist insurgents would begin soon. He pledged to work towards the rebuilding of destroyed schools and communities. 

“We are all under terror, so let us join hands to conquer our common enemies,” Mr. Jonathan said. He added, “I am promising the whole of you that we shall surely end this insurgency. We will surely stop Boko Haram and we shall return Borno to what we used to know.

“Whatever it takes to do this and to ensure the return of the Chibok girls we will do. We will surely conquer Boko Haram. We will surely return this state to the peaceful state we know.” 

Speaking at the rally, former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff assured the president that he would win the presidential polls in Borno State if the election were free and fair. Mr. Sheriff, who is a senator and close ally of Mr. Jonathan, promised the president that Governor Kashim Shettima, who belongs to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC),  “cannot score 30 percent of the votes cast. If the security agencies will not interfere I can also assure you that the whole of Borno State is for you if we are going to conduct free and fair elections.”

Meanwhile, some of the residents told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that, with roads closed in the city, they walked up more than seven miles to reach the venue of the campaigns.