Jonathan said this while answering questions during the Presidential Media Chat.
The president who said his seat “could be very hot or probably very cold” said that when confronted with such situations “you need courage to push ahead” adding that “this is a very ephemeral challenge. It is transient”.
Jonathan, who had a brief meeting with the service chiefs before the chat noted that with the commitment “we have, we will get over it” insisting that “we have to look at other ways of handling what we are trying”.
He said the declaration of state of emergency in three northeastern states in mid-May this year reduced the attacks on innocent civilians but the berated the fact that they are now trying to look at the soft spots, students hostels and places where you would not expect them to be just to embarrass the government.
He further noted that the meeting was to discuss how they must to begin to do things differently adding that “if the drum is changing, the dancers have to change their steps too”.
He also assured Nigerians “that we will continue to do what is right for this country without compromising the interest of the ordinary people”.
He was joined in the chat by Africa Independent Television’s Senami Ohiomokhare, Channels Television’s Gloria Ume-Ezeoke, Shehu Dada of the Capital Post Newspaper, Nosa Igeabor of Tell Magazine and Shola OShunkeye of The Sun Newspaper.
Other Answers Given to Questions asked on the Night
20.55
We have come to the end of our live blog for tonight. Thank you very much for following us.
20.51
Those interviewing the President are Nosa Igiebor (TELL), Shola Oshunkeye (SUN), Shehu Dauda (CAPITAL POST), Senami Ohiomokhare (AIT), Gloria Ume-Ezeoke (CHANNELS)
20.46
Too many eyes are on the petroleum ministry and its leaders, those who want oil blocks, those who want to lift crude and so on.
20.41
As president, I don’t know whether he is dead or alive. I don’t want to speculate, Jonathan says in response to a question on whether Boko Haram leader, Shekau, is dead
20.35
“As a president you cannot gag the judiciary,.. you must allow the judiciary to be independent,”Jonathan says on war corruption. #PresidentialMediaChat
20.31
Jonathan says his administration is working with the legislature, judiciary etc to fight corruption. #PresidentialMediaChat
20.29
International businessmen say corruption is the third most important challenge they face in Nigeria, Jonathan #PresidentialMediaChat
20.28
We are winning the war on corruption, Jonathan says on the fight against corruption. He says fertilizer scam and the corruption in the oil sector is being tackled…
20.25
On corruption, Jonathan says perception is different from reality. “Everyone talks as if corruption is our number one problem. But corruption is not Nigeria’s biggest problem. The key thing is access to finance, infrastructure …
20.22
“People don’t compare notes,” Jonathan, says some countries spend a lot more on governance than Nigeria. #PresidentialMediaChat
20.21
The problem with government is not the number of special assistants and senior special assistants we have. ”If you are a minister, you need people that are competent to help you,” Jonathan on high cost of governance. #PresidentialMediaChat
20.17
People complain about political appointees as if that’s the problem. If you want to run government as you run a modern business, you will even have more problems, Jonathan says in response to a question on the size and cost of governance
20.14
Reform in power sector is not just about generating electricity, Jonathan says #PresidentialMediaChat
20.13
The PDP administration has done reasonably well despite challenges, Jonathan says
20.05
Jonathan says there were definitely Boko Haram elements in the unfinished building where no fewer than 7 squatters were killed.
19.59
“I’m not God and can’t say it will never happen. But I promise Nigerians that within the limit of human competences, I will make sure we do not get to that situation,” in response to a question on the recent Kenya mall attack
19.56
“You can do without a minister of defence. But there can’t be vacuum as far as service chiefs are concerned.”
19.52
“The dropping of ministers has nothing to do with G7 governors. A cabinet is like a football team, you keep strengthening your team.”
19.50
“They should show you the agreement. I only talked about single term arrangement for our country not that Jonathan will serve for a single term.”
19.48
“I didn’t sign any agreement to serve for a single term. If I had signed any agreement, they would have shown you.”
19.45
Jonathan evasive on whether he will run in 2015 or not. “If you declare too early, you will destabilise government, the electoral law gives a timeframe within which you can declare.”
19.42
“Stealing of crude oil didn’t start today,” Jonathan says while explaining increase in crude oil theft. #PresidentialMediaChat
“A lot of arrests have been made… people are being prosecuted,” Jonathan says on crude oil theft #PresidentialMediaChat
19.41
Boko Haram worsened because it was not “properly handled at the beginning,” Jonathan. #PresidentialMediaChat
19.38
People talk about Boko Haram as if Jonathan is the cause of Boko Haram. Yet it has been there and it was even in 2009 that Yusuf (Boko Haram Leader) was killed.
19.34
“To say Nigeria is broke, there must be some parameters. To make that kind of statement is very unfortunate. We must be careful the statements we make. It doesn’t matter whether you like the face of the president or not.”
19.31
“Anyone who is saying Nigeria is broke is either playing politics or talking out of ignorance.”
19.30
The President says he does not control the resources of the states and wondered why lecturers in state universities are on strike over a matter that has to do with the centre.
19.28
ASUU should consider the sincerity in government and realise his government is not ready to close down other departments of government in other to solve the problems overnight.
Jonathan alleges that some of the government officials that negotiated 2009 agreement with ASUU were not competent and asks for a holistic resolution of the problem in the universities.
19.23
The president says there are certain things in the 2009 agreement with ASUU that are difficult to implement. “This particular issue is beyond the 2009 agreement.”
19.21
Jonathan alleges that politics has crept into ASUU’s strike and demands.
19.19
We can’t change the problems in the university overnight. We are using funds from other agencies to intervene in the problems in the tertiary institutions. Government is taking inventories in the universities, photographs and video clips. He says his administration is first to do that
19.17
ASUU strike is very unfortunate, Jonathan says of the ongoing strike. He says his administration has set up a technical committee to audit the situation in the universities
19.15
Kindly remember to send these 10 questions and more to President Jonathan http://premiumtimesng.com/news/145632-presidential-media-chat-10-questions-president-jonathan.html
19.11
“Most part of this country is safe now for any celebration,” even in Maiduguri… President Jonathan says
19.10
President Jonathan condemns the killing of students at College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe, on Sunday. ”Can poor people buy AK47?” Mr. Jonathan says of the attack
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