Jonathan admits treating terrorism with kid gloves

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday
admitted that his administration had hitherto been
treating terrorists in the country with kid glove.
Terrorists, especially members of the Islamic sect,
Boko Haram, have hold sway in the North-East
zone in the past three years, killing thousands of
citizens in attacks on villages, military and polie
facilities, worship houses and drinking joints.
The President said his government had now
decided to be more forceful in its approach
because of its desire to stamp out terror groups
from the country.
He spoke in Windhoek, Namibia, during a bilateral
talk with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
“Initially, we handle it (terrorism) with kid glove,
but now we have decided to be a little more
forceful because we must thrash out these terror
groups. We must not allow it to continue to slow
down economic growth in that part of the country,”
Jonathan said.
Jonathan told his Namibian counterpart that a
terror attack on any part of the world is an attack
on everyone, saying terrorism has become a
global phenomenon though the intensity might vary
from one country to the other.
He cited the case of Nigeria where he said
terrorism  was being witnessed in only three North
Eastern states out of the 36 states of the
federation.
He said the Federal Government had resolved that
it would not allow terrorism to continue to hinder
economic growth in the affected states.
The President said, “We must not allow it to
continue to slow down economic growth in that
part of the country.
“With the terror attacks in that part of the country,
the rest of the country feel it because Nigerians
live everywhere.
“In these other parts, there is always the fear that
if you do not tackle it, it will infiltrate in these other
parts.
“We will work together to ensure that terror attack
is stamped out globally and in Nigeria we are
committed.”
Jonathan thanked Pohamba for his country’s
support to Nigeria on its election as a non-
permanent member of the United Nations.
He made a case for at least two seats for Africa in
the UN Security Council.
Jonathan said, “I also believe in your philosophy
that if by God’s grace, the UN Security Council will
be restructured, that is, if the super powers will
allow it to be restructured, Africa should be
considered at least for two positions to represent
the interest of African people.
“I always say it that we cannot talk of democracy
when the strongest institutions globally are not
democratic but dictated to by one country alone.
“If we must practice democracy and emphasise
that all countries must be democratic, we need to
start from these powerful UN institutions that all
parts of the globe must have a say there.”
Pohamba had said that his country would forever
remain grateful to Nigeria for its contribution and
sacrifice towards the attainment of independence.