PRESIDENT JONATHAN WELCOMES GREATER SUPPORT FOR WAR AGAINST TERRORISM FROM NIGERIA’S NEIGHBOURS

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WELCOMES GREATER SUPPORT FOR WAR AGAINST TERRORISM FROM NIGERIA'S NEIGHBOURS

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja welcomed the greater support for the war against terrorism from Nigeria's neighbours.

Speaking at an audience with Mr. Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet, a Special Envoy of President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, President Jonathan also applauded the renewed and heightened commitment of Niger, Chad, Benin Republic and Cameroon to joining forces with Nigeria to rid the West African Sub-Region of the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism.

Reiterating his view that terrorist attacks on one country must be seen as an affront to all civilized nations,  the President called for an even stronger and more effective regional, continental and global alliance against terrorism and its perpetrators.

"Boko Haram and similar terrorist groups kill people indiscriminately hiding under religious beliefs that are not found in any of the Holy Books. They do not represent any civilized and rational people. Civilized and  rational people of the world  who are in the clear majority must therefore join forces to confront  and defeat them," President Jonathan said.

The President thanked President Ondimba for Gabon's pledge to support Nigeria's fight against insurgency. He assured him of Nigeria's total commitment to prosecuting the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Ngondet, who is  Gabon's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Gabon welcomed the decision to form a multinational force that will confront terrorism.

He said that Gabon shared Nigeria's position that Boko Haram's activities have no basis in religion and assured President Jonathan of the support of his country and others in the Central African sub-region in fighting terrorism.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 10, 2014