Jonathan Shocks Borno Elder

The people of Borno State saw a different Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, at a town hall meeting in the state goverment house, during his recent visit to the State. Borno State is the hotbed of Boko Haram, the dreaded islamic sect, that has been terrorizing the nation in recent time.

According to reports, the president was responding to the demands of the elders in the state requesting the removal of the military Joint Staff Force (JTF), which they accused of atrocities in its quest to restore peace in the state.
In a rare show of public assertiveness, the president said 'if the elders agree now to come and sign agreement with me that I should move out all the JTF, I will do it, but if anybody dies in Borno, I will hold them responsible. If anybody dies yes, I will take you. I am going to remove the JTF, but come and sign that i should remove the JTF and guarantee the safety of lives and properties of individuals'.
Speaking further the president said 'If you do that today, as I am going, the JTF will start moving to their barracks. But you must guarantee that if anything happens to anybody that you must be held responsible'.
The elders include- the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Nura Alkali, Shettima Ali Monguno, Baba Basharu, the state chairman of the People Democractic Party.
In anticipation of what is come during the President's visit, Sultan Mohammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and the spiritual leader of the nation 70 million muslims, had requested for amnesty for the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram, as the only way of restoring peace in that of the country.

 'if the elders agree now to come and sign agreement with me that I should move out all the JTF, I will do it, but if anybody dies in Borno State, I will hold them responsible.

In his presentation to the president, Prof Alkali said 'there is no one in the hall that has not lost a close relation or friends to the crisis. When a soldier is killed, there is retaliation with corpses littering the streets'. He stated that the crisis has brought untold hardship to the people.

However, President Jonathan responded 'I cannot preside over this country as a president and my security officers are being killed. These people leave their families, stay on the road and bush so that we will sleep and i will not want to hear that one of them is killed'.
The president advised the elders 'if the elders will not condemn it, we will continue to suffer under the terror of Boko Haram, without peace in Borno State, we cannot develop Borno State', saying ' if the circumstances that brought the soldiers are no longer there, that day, they will leave'.

The President's Body Language
Did the elders read the mind of the president wrongly? Earlier on arrival in the state, the president was dressed in a full white traditional robe 'agbada', with white shoes and a red cap to match. And across his shoulder was a sheathed sword, while the white robe symbolizes peace, the red cap portends danger, and the sword, a symbol of authority, says 'don't mess with me'. He walked with straight gait, exuding confidence and power.
The president has variously been criticized for his timidity and lack of self assertiveness in handling the security challenges posed to the nation by Boko Haram, and other issues like corruption and economic hardship facing the nation.

Aftermath Bomb Blast

Few hours after the president's departure from Maiduguri, Borno State Capital, loud explosions have been reported in parts of the city, an evident announcement of continued presence by the terrorist group. However, the questions are: When will the motions without movement of our leaders stop? When will our leaders come together to resolve the nation problems? Meanwhile, the people are suffering.