#BringBackOurGirls: Why we want dialogue option — Abati

In this interview with Ben Agande, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, speaks on why the Federal Government will not swap Boko Haram detainees with the Chibok schoolgirls abducted on April 14, some 50 days ago.
He, however, says government is ready to integrate Boko Haram members who lay down their arms and renounce terrorism back to the Nigerian family.
Excerpts:
The President has met with several world leaders since the abduction of the Chibok girls. What have these meetings produced?
The reach out to the international community and the acceptance of offers of support and expression of solidarity by various countries and multilateral institutions has been very productive and fruitful.
The President welcomes any offer of assistance and help. What has been achieved with all these efforts: the Paris meeting, the meeting with the President of the Republic of Congo and the meeting in South Africa on the sidelines of the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma is that the President of Nigeria has been able to mobilise international cooperation.

GUSAU HAS NOT RESIGNED

The report by an online medium earlier today that the Minister of Defense, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd.) has resigned is untrue.

General Gusau remains in Office as Minister of Defence.

His absence from today's meeting of the Federal Executive Council which was cited in support of the false report of his resignation was with the permission of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 12, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEVER ACCUSED FORMER SERVICE CHIEFS OF “UNNECESSARY COMPETITION”

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEVER ACCUSED FORMER SERVICE CHIEFS OF "UNNECESSARY COMPETITION"
Reports in the media yesterday which claimed that President Jonathan said during his visit to Yola on Tuesday that he "fired" former service chiefs because of "unhealthy competition" among them are untrue and misleading.
It appears that for reasons of mischief and reckless sensationalism, a section of the media deliberately chose to misrepresent the President's innocuous and clear call for greater synergy and inter-service cooperation in the war against terrorism.
President Jonathan did not at anytime during his remarks in Yola say that the former chiefs were guilty of undue rivalry, nor did he say, as claimed by some newspapers, that such unhealthy rivalry was responsible for recent security breaches in Adamawa and other parts of the country.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPROVES CHANGES IN MILITARY HIGH COMMAND

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the following changes in the nation's Military High Command:

Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.