President Goodluck Jonathan has promised Nigerian youths that his administration will continue to encourage them to be the best in their chosen professions.
The President was speaking in an interactive session with Nigerian youths themed “Democracy Day-a Day with young leaders organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government.
He used the occasion to launch another booklet on the transformation agenda 2013-2014—Steady Progress Moving Forward, challenging Nigerian politicians to live by their promises to the electorate.
The president provided answers to questions posed by the youths but before then he had launched a book- transformation agenda 2013-2014-steady progress moving forward where he threw up another challenge to politicians.
The Minister of Youths and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr Boni Haruna described Nigerian youth as very enterprising and reiterated governments call for amnesty for Boko Haram members.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. A series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace. “Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the federal government to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into amnesty programme.”
Haruna likened the amnesty offer to the one in the Niger Delta, saying 30,000 youths have benefitted from the programme and have been transformed from militants to “wealth creators, employers of labour and skilled citizens”.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect. A series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace. “Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the federal government to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key into amnesty programme.”
Read more at: http://www.thecable.ng/breaking-jonathan-declares-amnesty-for-boko-haram/ | TheCable
The president said he has confidence in Nigerian youths and urged them to grab the numerous opportunities available and be who they want to be.
President Jonathan said that terrorism cannot succeed in any community without support from the local people and called on those who are respected by the insurgents to join hands with the government in order to encourage them to lay down their arms, insisting that the “military alone cannot stop terrorism”.
He said: “Terror succeeds with local support. It will be difficult for terror to thrive where people reject it. It is a major challenge to all of us.”
“Military alone cannot stop terror or any radicalism. Terrorists have people they respect, they have community, traditional and opinion leaders they respect. All of us can deradicalise them.
“We will through persuasive activities encourage people to shun violence,” he added
As part of efforts to ensure youths are reorientated and not misled, he said that his government is already working out modalities to reintroducing moral education in schools.
Also at the event are the former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, and former Chief of General Staff, Oladipo Diya.
