2015: Jonathan hosts Igbo leaders

Says Boko Haram ‘intimidation’ will not last
President Goodluck Jonathan has once again said that the ‘intimidation’ tactics employed by terrorists who are wrecking havoc in parts of the county, will not last.
President Jonathan who spoke about the major bomb attack at the Kano Central Mosque on Friday, assured Nigerians that government would continue to update the necessary security infrastructure and architecture to be able to bring insurgency to an end.
He urged Nigerians to see the present security situation as a passing phase which the country would overcome, just like many other countries that faced such challenges at one time or the other and eventually overcame it, Nigeria he said will also defeated it.
The President hosted a conglomerate of Igbo market and town union leaders in Lagos under the auspices of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, led by Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and Arthur Ezeh. The meeting was held at the State House, Marina.
”I just want to tell Nigerians that this phase will surely pass. This intimidation will not last. We will continue to improve on the technology needed to combat terrorism. This intimidation will soon end, I can assure you. Other countries that were faced with the problem of terrorism, defeated it, we shall overcome also,” the President said.
While thanking the Igbo leaders who represented the 158 recognised markets as well as many town unions in Lagos for vowing to deliver all Igbo votes to him come 2015 Presidential election, the President said he had always been overwhelmed by the kind of support he has been getting from the Igbos since the inception of his administration.
’I don’t know how to thank the Igbos. I don’t know how to thank my brothers and sisters from the southeast. After serving this country, I will have to go and read literature and study all classical literary works by Chinua Achebe and others to be able to learn how to describe and thank my brothers of the Igbo tribe. The kind of support, love and prayers you have showered on me are unbelievable. I have gotten the kind of support I never expected from you all. It’s not about what I can do or what I have done, its just God’s love,” the President said.
Speaking earlier, Arthur Eze urged the Igbos to keep mobilizing votes for Jonathan because he had the fear of God and sincerity to work for the nation.
Ifeanyi Ubah called on them to show their numerical strength in Lagos by mobilizing many votes for Jonathan.
TAN Secretary, Christian Okechukwu noted that, the organization planned to use mobile phone freebies and door to door mobilization to deliver the votes necessary to ensure a Jonathan victory in 2015.