Boko Haram is holding parts of Nigeria to ransom and President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday admitted that the activities of the violent Islamic sect have curtailed his movement and prevented him from going to wherever he loves. The blast at Emab Plaza in Abuja, occurred on Wednesday shortly after the President left Nigeria for the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government.
According to his itinerary released by Dr. Reuben Abati, the President was scheduled to return to the country on Friday after the summit but Jonathan returned to Nigeria on Thursday evening from because of the bomb blast at Emab Plaza in Abuja.
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President Jonathan, who visited EMAB Plaza on Friday, urged Nigerians to bear the pains and restrictions that could be imposed on them as security agencies work hard to end insurgency in the country.
“We all bear some pains, from the highest to the least because as a President, I may not go to everywhere I would have loved to go, these are some of the challenges I have to face.
“We share the pains of the people who have been directly affected, the pains of their families, but we will surely pass through this ugly phase of our history. The perpetrators of this, those who are directly involved and those who sponsor them will surely be brought to book."
Jonathan, while speaking at the Abuja bomb blast scene, described the insurgency as one of the darkest phases of the country’s history.
The President, who arrived at the scene at about 11:10am, was briefed at the spot where the bomb went off by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba.
He was accompanied by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; his Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa; and other senior government officials.
Jonathan spent about five minutes before moving under tight security to the Maitama District Hospital where those who sustained various degrees of injuries in the explosion are being treated.
Once again, President Jonathan assured Nigerians that insurgency would soon end.
Jonathan said, “It is quite regrettable and extremely painful that when some Nigerians are struggling, thinking of how to contribute to the nation’s development, they are working very hard to take care of their families, train their children, others are busy planning to kill people, intimidate people, destroy peoples’ property. It is regrettable.
“It is one of the darkest phases in the history of our nation, but surely we will get over it. Some other countries have passed through such cloud before and they were able to overcome it and sail through.
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