The presidential media chat has started,almost coming to an end. It was

The presidential media chat has started. It was opened by a brief
speech by the president. Questioning have swiftly moved into the
postponed elections. The president sought the understanding of the
international community over the postponed elections. He said the kind
of scenarios where elections are postponed for the sake of
perpetuating power is not the case in Nigeria.
19.18
The president is asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can be
won in six weeks even though the war had raged for six years. The
president said he has just acquired new weapons, and gotten support of
neigbhouring countries to fight Boko Haram. He mentioned that Chad
waited for African Union approval, which they recently got too. He
also mentioned that the issue of security is beyond Boko Haram. The
president said it runs into dangerous signals of youth restiveness.
19.24
Do you have confidence in Jega to conduct the 2015 elections? The
president said he wished Jega was seated by his side to answer the
question. One of the interviewers interjected that he (Jega) is
watching. He blames his supporters for rumours about Jega's
resignation. "I have not told anybody that I will remove Jega," he
said. He explained that if there are obvious reasons to remove Jega,
he would rely on "constitutional" provisions that gives him powers to
sack whoever he appoints.
19.24
In the next four weeks Nigerians will see the difference in the
security intervention in the North- Jonathan
19.25
On Jega: I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer
whether I have confidence in him Yes those who called for his sack may
be close to me, but they express their own opinion. More than 80 per
cent of those who sponsor messages on our behalf we don't even know
them. People use the reschedule of election to misinform Nigerians.
19.26
I have never thought about removing INEC Chairman, though I have the
constitutional power to do so
19.26
The level of misinformation, especially from young people is high
19.28
"Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence.The
president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. People get
carried away and make some provocative statements."
19.31
"Those who pelted my convoy during my campaigns in the Northern part
of the country were ignorant. If INEC conducts the election poorly, it
will be on my head."
19.31
The next question is about hate speeches and political violence by
both opposition and ruling party members. The president explained that
"some people" get carried away by the political play and exude these
violence. He blamed aides and associates of key political actors for
the hate speeches and political violence. He did not categorically
condemn the hate speeches or war threats or politically-motivated
violence. "We will make sure things are done so that nobody goes to
war," the president said when he pressed for categorical stance on the
war threats by ex-millitants should he lose the elections. He argues
journalists have responsibility to ensure the unity of the country.
19.33
The president is asked why he frequents churches for campaign but
never visited mosques. He responded by saying he does not receive
invitations from Muslims.
19.38
The president is asked if election would hold should the military
fails to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks. The presidents said the
new dates are scrosanct and a new president would be sworn in by May
29. He argued that the goal is not to totally eliminate Boko Haram but
to make adequate security arrangement for the election.
19.42
Questioning moves to the issue of the president's perceived weak
support especially as it relates to the missing Chibok girls. "Just
give us some times," he said, responding to questions seeking the
state of the girls at the moment. The president is optimistic the
girls would be rescued with the new military collaboration with
neighbouring countries. "I believe the story would be different in a
few weeks," the president said. "We would recover them alive." With
regards to his weakened political base, the president said "in
politics, there are only permanent interests."
19.51
The president is asked to clarify his previous comments that "stealing
is not corruption" He said he made that statement quoting the former
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Mustafa, who explained to him that
his analysis of corruption cases in Nigeria showed that most of such
cases were theft. He argued that referring to stealing as corruption
minimizes the crime. "Ole (thief in Yoruba) should be called Ole and
given that treatment," the prewsident said. "Let us communicated
properly. The word corruption, we have abused it."
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19.53
"It is not actually my quotation. I quoted the former Chief Justice,"
as he continues to defend his previous comments on corruption and
stealing.
19.56
Chibok Girls: I belief the story of Chibok Girls will get better in
the next few weeks, but don't quote me. We are working with our
neighbours, we will comb the whole of that place Partying after
abduction? It's unfortunate that people play politics with the issue
of Chibok girls. It's not like that elsewhere. In other countries,
political boundaries collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in
Nigeria.
19.57
The state of the N1 billion security loan and funds confiscated in
South Africa. He said the government have not started disbursing the
N1 billion loan. With regards to the .3 million arms money seized in
South Africa, he said the money does not belong to Nigeria,
technically. He added that the matter was in court.
19.57
We have convicted more corrupt people than ever. It is just that
Nigerians are confused on what the difference is between stealing and
corruption.
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