US lashes at FG on Boko Haram •Says it has allowed sect to grow while Nigerians’ living standard declines





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Written by Olawale Rasheed, Abuja Wednesday, 11 April 2012
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THE Barak Obama administration has again declared that Islamic militants in northern Nigeria are capitalising on popular discontent with the government, with a call on the Federal Government to tackle economic problems in order to stop the violence.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, speaking at the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the threat from Boko Haram grows as Nigeria’s standard of living declined on Monday night.

“Nigerians are hungry for progress and improvement in their lives, but northern Nigerians feel this need most acutely. Life in Nigeria may be tough for many, but life in the North is grim for almost all,” he said

“Public opinion polls and news reports suggest there is a strong sentiment throughout the country - but especially in the North - that government is not on the side of the people and their poverty is a result of government neglect, corruption, and abuse.”

“Although Boko Haram is reviled throughout Nigeria and offers no practical solutions to the country’s problems, a growing minority of certain northern ethnic groups, however, regard them favourably,” he said, adding that “Boko Haram capitalises on popular frustrations with the nation’s leaders.”

Talking about the solution to the conflict, Carson said it is a far harder problem to tackle now because it is no longer one group controlled by a single charismatic leader, adding that “Boko Haram is now both a larger group focused on discrediting Nigeria’s government and a smaller, increasingly sophisticated and lethal group with a broader anti-Western jihadist agenda and links to al-Qaeda.”

He noted that complicating the situation further is the tendency of some Nigerian officials to blame Boko Haram for all bank robberies and local vendettas in the North when some were clearly the work of common criminals and political thugs.

Carson said President Goodluck Jonathan’s government needed a new social compact with northern citizens, local non-governmental organisations, civil society, and religious leaders, adding that “Abuja needs an economic recovery strategy that complements its security strategy.

“Northern populations are currently trapped between violent extremists on the one hand and heavy-handed government responses on the other. They need to know that their president is going to go to extraordinary lengths to fix their problems"he said.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/39076-us-lashes-at-fg-on-boko-haram-says-it-has-allowed-sect-to-grow-while-nigerians-living-standard-declines

At last,America has seen thru the shenanigans of this divisive and unproductive leadership!This man has kept most Nigerians distracted from serious developmental issues largely to deflect focus on his lack-lustre performance in office.Last year,GEJ and his goons lobbied America to label BOKO HARAM a terrorist group,American govt did their due diligence and found out that this govt can never be trusted.They did not buy GEJ's antics,profiling this man personally,I must admit his govt right from onset is a monumental disaster.From his call for one-term of 7yrs while he is yet to spent one month,to subsidy removal,to Boko haram handling,Bayelsa politics,Tukur emergence as pdp chair,countless goofs from acknowleged receipt of bribe,feeding budget for the presidency ,failure to pay salaries of workers several months after promosing to pay their salariesetc.This man is a disaster.Add his failure to his poor perception as a weak and ineffective leader in international media.America couldn't have agrred more.
At the end of his tenure,he should be dragged before International Court in hague for humanright abuses and investigated for abuses and genocide committed against Nigerians while he was in chart.
The Ijaws are not just educationally disadvantaged,I think the penchant for settling for substandard lifestyles and living is legendary and runs in their genes.They will have a lot of GEJ to lead them if ,God forbid,this country breaks into pieces.

onomeasike: At last,America has seen thru the shenanigans of this divisive and unproductive leadership!This man has kept most Nigerians distracted from serious developmental issues largely to deflect focus on his lack-lustre performance in office.

at last wetin? The world has always known, but since the Nigerian people overwhelmingly said yes, we all decided to wait and watch for when people will finally open their eyes to what they accepted last april. April 16th is around the corner, and yet another year of business as usual, it seems this has been.

Obama. . .Abeg shorrop jor!
Your oil is not affected!!!

So there are 3 levels of government in Nigeria.

Federal.

State.

Local.

So which is Carson castigating for lack of performance in the North?

Keep in mind that both state and local are fully controlled by that same north....

OP, why the dishonesty in your title?

the article doesn't have that quote in it.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/39076-us-lashes-at-fg-on-boko-haram-says-it-has-allowed-sect-to-grow-while-nigerians-living-standard-declines

so carson or what ever calls himself is now telling me that d north that rejected education is in need of development?
this is same north that ruled nigeria over 38 years that couldn't develop their area. now this idiot is blamin it on gej.
tufiakwa

i know some bh fans and sympathisers ll jump into this thread and start shoutin foul.
but i really pity these useless folks called northern cos they re not gonna see power anytime soon.
born to rule my a,s.s...
tufiakwa

thread is for el stupidos! aka bh ppl

All level of governments failed the country. But the northern leaders are the most wicked leaders in the country.

Northern leaders should have robust plan how to tackle the almajiri issue not only rely on the federal government.

Talking about the solution to the conflict, Carson said it is a far harder problem to tackle now because it is no longer one group controlled by a single charismatic leader, adding that [b] “Boko Haram is now both a larger group focused on discrediting Nigeria’s government and a smaller, increasingly sophisticated and lethal group [/b]with a broader anti-Western jihadist agenda and links to al-Qaeda.”

The common almajri guys have entered the struggle.

correction the not has not ruled nigeria for 38years rather 30years the first coup came from the south,the south began the process of ethnic killing.so please blame ur elders

Who's now the Saint in all of this?

onoja12: correction the not has not ruled nigeria for 38years rather 30years the first coup came from the south,the south began the process of ethnic killing.so please blame ur elders

is it our leaders dat made north to be riden with poverty n disease.
clap 4 urself. olodo

with the way things are, if the North/Boko Haram feel marginalized and cheated, can we dare them to declare Northern independence and if they do, would Nigeria go into a war to save the unity of the country like they did Biafra?
#QuestionsThatKeepMeUpAtNight#

that my friend was done by the britsh and now the west with active participation of some of our leaders

onoja12: correction the not has not ruled nigeria for 38years rather 30years the first coup came from the south,the south began the process of ethnic killing.so please blame ur elders

I agree with you.[img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]

onomeasike:
The Ijaws are not just educationally disadvantaged,I think the penchant for settling for substandard lifestyles and living is legendary and runs in their genes.They will have a lot of GEJ to lead them if ,God forbid,this country breaks into pieces.

your father is inept, because ur fathers prevented us from d post now ur insultn d president. Idiot!!!! We will not hand over for d next 8yrs.

Yes, I think Government should more proactive in the dealing with the issue Boko haram.

A minority cannot rule a country like Nigeria cuz he lacks the political will/swags to tackle most issues.No wonder ACN and Buhari address jonathan like a tomboy.

if northern theif rulers, can invest their ill-gotten wealth in the north rather taking it to arabs countries with lavishly spending and marry under age girls,their region would have far better by now.

GEJ Propagandists: Evil Northerners don't want GEJ to rule and are trying to frustrate him?
American Government: Shut up! Tell your man to be a leader and not a whinner!

[b]Agreed, Boko Haram "may be" the product of poverty and social stagnation in the north. But lets face the truth,.. they should have their leaders to blame and not meccessarily blame the present government. The Nigerian situation is unique. The Bottomline is every political issue is always Religion. America may not neccessarily understand the true picture. Consider these facts?

1.The North and its Corrupt Leaders have Ruled and Ruin this country in many years than their southern counterparts. The Northern Leaders were better placed to turn around the lives of their citizens but fail to do that. Coupled with the fact that the Northern Religious doctrine encourages Class Structures that rather enslaves and enpoverish the masses... hence the situation where the gap between the rich and the poor is alarmingly wider in the North.
2. Will Boko Haram have come up had it been a Muslim North had won the last Presidential poll? No! No!! No!!! To tell you the truth, Boko Haram is nothing but a calculated attempt to bring down the present government. This agenda is very clear.
3. What are Boko Haram claims? Do their claims justify the senseless killings? Why are the killings targeted at christians?

I bet anyone, If power should go back to the North and we will no longer hear of Boko Haram again.
I rest my case[/size]

buzor:
is it our leaders dat made north to be riden with poverty n disease.
clap 4 urself. olodo

You do not have to insult him in order to counter his argument! Can't we just talk straight?

U are 1001% right

~Bluetooth:

A minority cannot rule a country like Nigeria cuz he lacks the political will/swags to tackle most issues.No wonder ACN and Buhari address jonathan like a tomboy.

Shut up.Nigeria is not a hunter gather's entity,it is a country that can be ruled by whoever is competent.Not that i am saying gej is competent but he is the devil while the rest are the deep blue sea.And I will rather stick with the devil and work out ways to manipulate him than jump into the deep blue sea without liferaft.

emmysam2: [b]Agreed, Boko Haram "may be" the product of poverty and social stagnation in the north. But lets face the truth,.. they should have their leaders to blame and not meccessarily blame the present government. The Nigerian situation is unique. The Bottomline is every political issue is always Religion. America may not neccessarily understand the true picture. Consider these facts?

1.The North and its Corrupt Leaders have Ruled and Ruin this country in many years than their southern counterparts. The Northern Leaders were better placed to turn around the lives of their citizens but fail to do that. Coupled with the fact that the Northern Religious doctrine encourages Class Structures that rather enslaves and enpoverish the masses... hence the situation where the gap between the rich and the poor is alarmingly wider in the North.
2. Will Boko Haram have come up had it been a Muslim North had won the last Presidential poll? No! No!! No!!! To tell you the truth, Boko Haram is nothing but a calculated attempt to bring down the present government. This agenda is very clear.
3. What are Boko Haram claims? Do their claims justify the senseless killings? Why are the killings targeted at christians?

I bet anyone, If power should go back to the North and we will no longer hear of Boko Haram again.
I rest my case[/size]

Your claim @ bolded is inaccurate. Boko Haram was already waging a low-level insurgency during Late Yar'Adua's regime. Check your facts well before you post please.

onoja12: correction the not has not ruled nigeria for 38years rather 30years the first coup came from the south,the south began the process of ethnic killing.so please blame ur elders

Study your history properly. Can't really blame you sha, your lack of education is obvious. Boko apologist.

Us forgot to mention that animals like atiku instigated this all out war with his treasonable statements that he will make nigeria ungovernable.Because his loots are all in america,they don't see him as a threat.

The new American position on Goodluck J's administration simply shows that GEJ is becoming some how independent minded. It simply shows that the administration is reasonably deviating from the direction that serves majorly the American interests as opposed to the Nigerians'.
Obviously, it was not for the love of Nigerians that the Obama administration has come up with this people oriented position.

I heard of a meeting where ACF issued a statement dat they know/accepted dat the North is d problem of Nigeria.

How come no one was talking about d poverty in d north when they were in power?

They stole(still stealing) billions of dollars frm Nigeria, they r responsible for d poverty in d North.

Let no one justify boko haram because they hv none.what has d killing of Christians has to do with alliviating their poverty?

antartica:

Shut up.Nigeria is not a hunter gather's entity,it is a country that can be ruled by whoever is competent.Not that i am saying gej is competent but he is the devil while the rest are the deep blue sea.And I will rather stick with the devil and work out ways to manipulate him than jump into the deep blue sea without liferaft.

You should be saying this to obama and not me since he blamed the FG not me nor the northern elites !

For d 1st time in dis generation, the U.S is saying the truth, GEJ is the worst, iinsensitive n incomppetent person to handle nigeria in a time like this.

Wwith GEJ, people r nw suffering due to subsiidy removal, coorruption is increasing instead of declining, wrong n stupid govt policies, public n daft statemments made by him n his umblerra, n to make it worse HE SAID BOKO WILL END BY JUNE howwwww?

Freesh air Fresh air Fresh air ...wat a slowpoke