From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
Elder statesman and Chairman of the Northern Patriotic Front, NPF, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai yesterday denied that President Goodluck Jonathan administration is funding insurgency in the North.
Yakassai speaking at the media presentation of ‘Candidate Goodluck Jonathan’, organized by the Public Affairs Department also denied that insurgency in Northern is targeted at President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
He said both conceptions are wrong.
“That the Boko Haram was created to frustrate Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and that his administration was sponsoring Boko Haram, both impressions are wrong. Boko Haram came to the Nigerian scene way back in 2002, this was during President Obasanjo’s first term in office. That was the time Boko Haram started. The federal government has nothing to do with Boko Haram and no government will encourage insurgency against itself. Anyone who is saying that Boko Haram is created to destabilize Jonathan or is being sponsored by Jonathan is erroneous and wrong,” he said.
He however commended President Jonathan for retaining his vice, Nnamdi Sambo as his running mate.
“we the North, are so grateful that he decided to retain architect Namadi Sambo as his running mate, in the last five year, we have not heard of any rancour or disagreement between the President and his Vice. I hope that President will ensure that he executes the recommendations of the National Conference especially the rotation of power so that each geo-political zone will have the opportunity of producing the president of this country.”
Yakassi while calling for issues based campaign commended President Jonathan for not attacking any individual during his acceptance to fly the PDP ticket.
“I watched President Jonathan during his acceptance speech as the PDP candidate, he spoke about his plans for hours, he did not abuse anybody but address issues, this is the type of politics we are looking for, politics of idea, politics of progress
Also speaking at the event, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe insisted that the country is at war and his principal should not be blamed for the missing girls.
“We are in a war situation, and in war situation anything happens, you see kidnapping, rape and killing and the government is not responsible for this.
“Insurgency cannot be and will not be a referendum for 2015, we did not start this war but we inherited it,” Okupe said.
He restated that President Jonathan is committed to seeing the Chibok girls release alive.
