Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast early on Thursday (today), said he had directed the deployment of security personnel in all the troubled areas to bring the mayhem which he likened to the killings of the pre-civil war days to an immediate end.
The security agencies, according to him, are also to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and sponsors of the violence.
He said, “I have ordered the deployment of security personnel to troubled parts of the country. I have also directed the reinforcement of security in all parts of the country.
“I have authorised our security services to use all lawful means, including justifiable force to bring an immediate end to all acts of violence against our fellow citizens.
“I have directed that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts of violence and all those who seek to continue to breach the peace and stability of this nation must be fished out and made to face the full weight of the law.”
Stressing that his primary duty as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, was to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, Jonathan warned: “enough is enough.”
He said, “My fellow countrymen and women, enough is enough. As President, it is my solemn duty to defend the constitution of this country.
“That includes the obligation to protect the lives and properties of every Nigerian wherever they choose to live.
“I will defend the right of all citizens to freely express their democratic choice anywhere in this country; to enjoy every freedom and opportunity that this country can offer without let or hindrance.
“I assure all Nigerians that I will do so with all powers at my disposal as President, Commander-in-Chief.
Jonathan, who also said he had directed governors to take personal responsibility for the safety of all members of the National Youth Service Corps posted to their states, added that a “judicial commission of inquiry will be constituted to look into the immediate and remote causes of this recent tide of unrest.”
He explained that the directive to the governors followed the increasing attacks on the corps members in the affected northern states.
“In view of the condemnable attacks on our gallant corps members, I have directed all state governors to take personal responsibility for their security and safety in the states where they serve,” the President said.
Tough talking Jonathan added that he decided to order a crack down on the protesters because the latest attacks had struck the heart of the nation.
He likened the riots to the incidents that preceded the civil war in 1966 and the carnage witnessed in the country after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential results.
Jonathan said, “If anything at all, these acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events which plunged our country into 30 months of an unfortunate civil war.
“As a nation, we are yet to come to terms with the level of human suffering, destruction and displacement, including that of our children to far-away countries, occasioned by those dark days.
“ The nation still bears some of the scars of other similar events like the aftermath of the June 12th 1993 elections that brought our polity to the brink.
The President lamented that in recent years, Nigeria had “also witnessed other acts of intolerance, violence and destruction of human life perpetrated by unpatriotic elements for no justifiable reason.”
He said that it was inconceivable that there were people who seek to re-enact a stalemate in the political process.
Describing the recent riots as “unnecessary,” Jonathan reminded troublemakers that “democracy is about the rule of law.”
Jonatthan appealed “to all communities around the country to show restraint in the face of provocation.”
He assured “that calm is being restored in troubled parts of the country and that the elections scheduled for next Tuesday will go on as planned.”
Post-election violence broke out on Sunday in about 10 states in the North shortly after results of the April 16 presidential election indicated that Jonathan would win.
The violence which continued in some of the states till Wednesday has left scores of persons dead and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
Among the dead are corps members. As at Thursday, the whereabouts of 27 corps members attacked in Bauchi by some hoodlums were unknown.
Four of their colleagues were confirmed dead by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amana Abakasanga.
Prominent among those whose homes were burnt are Vice-President Namadi Sambo; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; a former presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention, Alhaji Bashir Tofa; and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba.
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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