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President Goodluck Jonathan said he underestimated Boko Haram Islamists who have overrun swathes of the country’s northeast and defended an election postponement in an interview published Sunday.
President Jonathan

President Jonathan

Jonathan, facing a tight re-election bid against ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, has faced criticism over the vote delay, which critics argue was designed to give him time to shore up his campaign.

The military pushed for the six-week delay eventually granted by the electoral commission to allow it to secure the country for the vote, though Boko Haram’s insurgency has raged for six years.

Presidential and parliamentary elections are now set for March 28.

“Probably at the beginning, we, and I mean myself and the team, we underrated the capacity of Boko Haram,” Jonathan said in an interview with influential newspaper ThisDay.

He said that the military has recently acquired more arms and ammunition to do battle with the Islamists, vowing that their suppression and the capture of the group’s leader were near.

“God willing, we will catch (Abubakar) Shekau before the elections,” he said.

Asked why six more weeks would make a difference in the years-long conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people, Jonathan said the military could make reasonable progress in that time.

“We are not saying we must finish Boko Haram to conduct elections, but we should get to a point where they will not cause havoc if they make an attempt,” he said in the interview.

“My belief is that by 28th of next month, when the elections will be conducted, Boko Haram may not even be in a position to attack any town, God willing.”

Nigeria‘s military authorities on Saturday claimed to have recaptured the fishing town of Baga from the Islamists, more than a month after it was overrun in what is feared to be the worst massacre of the six-year insurgency.

There was no independent corroboration of the claim, as thousands of Baga residents had fled the town after Boko Haram attacked on January 3 and hundreds, if not more, were killed in the following days.

Over one million people have been left homeless since 2009 as the rebels try to carve out an Islamic state in northeasternNigeria.

The Islamists have recently extended their violent campaign into nations neighbouring Nigeria‘s northeast as regional forces pursue them.


Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/i-underestimated-boko-haram-jonathan/#sthash.SnMe5zPS.dpuf

Good for you.But dont underestimate Buhari.He is the next President!

That is the first step to defeating your enemy, you need to understand and to know him

Nice one

He should since he lacks basic understanding of security matters.

when they were bombin open spaces, u did no estimation.
when they brought in Sucide bombers, where were u.
when they kidnap chibok girls, what were u thinking.
when they were butcherin Muslims and christains, women and children, at least u suppose read am for newspaper.
JONAH, do u realise u r the president of africa most populous nation?
after how many years of them killing and maiming us, all u could say is you underestimated Boko haram .
tufiakwa maka clueless nwa ne.
.

Dear God,
Please grant Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan the wisdom to keep his mouth shut!

the more he opens it to say something, the more disgusting things he says, he has disgraced this nation enough.

Ha! If them talk say who lie pass for this world, make dem come carry our presido. Jonah they lieee shege, chai!

I THOUGHT THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE KILLED SHAKAU?