The planned designation of the Islamist sect,Boko Haram,as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) or International Terrorist Organisation (ITO) by the United States of America (USA) may not come to pass afterall, it emerged yesterday in Abuja.
The Federal Government, according to highly placed sources,has succeeded in securing a positive commitment from the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on the issue.

Clinton was in Nigeria on Thursday during which he met with President Goodluck Jonathan, top government officials and security functionaries.
Boko Haram and the threat it posed to the nation topped the agenda at the meetings.
Besides, the US offered to give intelligence support and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to check the menace of the sect.
It was gathered that the Federal Government pleaded with the US Secretary of State and members of her delegation to shelve the designation plan.

One source said: “In making a case against the designation of Boko Haram as a terrorist group, the Federal Government took into consideration the fact that it will look like a sanction which will hurt innocent Nigerians.
“Some people think that the designation will only hurt Boko Haram members without knowing that all of us will bear the brunt.

“We realized that it might scare away investors from Nigeria and lead to visa restriction and subjection of Nigerians to maltreatment at airports all over the world, including frisking of their bodies and other harsh measures.
“And once the US does that, the EU countries will follow. The consequence of the designation is that this country will return to the club of pariah nations. This will surely in turn hurt our economy.

“So, the government pleaded with the US Secretary of State and other top officials against designation.
“We also succeeded in explaining in details what we have been doing to check insurgency in some parts of the country. As a matter of fact, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was at the session to brief the US delegation.
“The Federal Government delegation was optimistic that with steps taken so far and its readiness for dialogue, the Boko Haram menace can be tackled.
“We were able to convince the delegation that it will be counter-productive to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group since the US considers Nigeria as its‘strategic partner’ in the sub-region.

“The US Secretary of State and others were positive in their response. They agreed with us that there is no need yet to take a drastic designation action against Boko Haram.
“So, we are positive that they will shelve the plan and cooperate with us to strengthen our capacity to address our security challenges.
“One of the key areas they are looking at is about how to assist us in intelligence gathering and empower our security agencies (in terms of training and exposure) to address the Boko Haram insurgency.”

When contacted last night, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, only spoke about the gains of the bilateral session with the US Secretary of State without any reference to security matters.
He said:”For about two hours, we were all engrossed with how to improve ties between the two countries. The US promised to support us and back our reforms.

“We decided to explore more cooperation on agriculture, power and petroleum resources. Clinton explained that some American companies are interested in agriculture and gas turbines in Nigeria .
“We are expecting more investors from the US in these key areas of the economy. It was a major foreign policy breakthrough for us as a nation.”

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/news/57218-fg-to-clinton%3A-don%E2%80%99t-brand-boko-haram-as-terrorist-group.html

If Boko Haram isn't designated a terrorist organization,what then is it? A socio-cultural organization? A religious,economic or youth league? Ok! I understand. D difference is International/local status.So even d supposed international watchdog can't call a spade a spade,abi them they fear face? Nigerians re already suffering d consequences of dis challenges. Those in diaspora bear d stigma as well as d home-based. Americans don't care a rap about Naija n its citizens,but dia selfish interest. Strategic partners my foot. If the Boko Boys had welcomed Clinton wt 21 bomb salute,d story wud ve bn different. Wait a minute. Has Americans addressed their security problems? D number of people slained in America in 3months exceeds what Boko Haram has done in a year. Sumone shud tell doz hypocrites dat Syria,Sudan,Somalia need dia intelligence,while non-oil nations need to bloodsucking investors. Another american wonder in d offing.

I care less . . and I don't give a damn with whatever name they call it. . All I want is . . .LET THE BOMBING & THE KILLINGS STOP.

Stanley Divine: If Boko Haram isn't designated a terrorist organization,what then is it? A socio-cultural organization? A religious,economic or youth league? Ok! I understand. D difference is International/local status.So even d supposed international watchdog can't call a spade a spade,abi them they fear face? Nigerians re already suffering d consequences of dis challenges. Those in diaspora bear d stigma as well as d home-based. Americans don't care a rap about Naija n its citizens,but dia selfish interest. Strategic partners my foot. If the Boko Boys had welcomed Clinton wt 21 bomb salute,d story wud ve bn different. Wait a minute. Has Americans addressed their security problems? D number of people slained in America in 3months exceeds what Boko Haram has done in a year. Sumone shud tell doz hypocrites dat Syria,Sudan,Somalia need dia intelligence,while non-oil nations need to bloodsucking investors. Another american wonder in d offing.

hmmm..

...and if pple call ds FISHERMAN a clueless leader some maggots here wil wnt 2 eat ur flesh.*smh* so,wt ar BH if nt terrorists??

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SOLVE THE SECURITY CHALLENGE, OUR GOVERNMENT IS BOTHERED ABOUT HOW TO STOP THE NAMING OF BOKO-HARAM AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. CASE OF MISPLACEMENT OF PRIORITY.

So what are they? Red Cross Society or Bomb Safety Group? Mtcheeeeew

Hell no! Was expecting those hell fire delivering drones over northern nigeria soon. Like I have to wait longer.

FG please tell us, If BH isn't a terrorist group, then BH is what then?

Pls help define who is a terrorist is? If BH is not a terrorist group, what is it?

Hmmmm

baldeagle: Pls help define who is a terrorist is? If BH is not a terrorist group, what is it?

peace-keeping organization.

What is Boko Haram then, a branch of the UN? mtchewwwwwww

In as much as i would love them branded terrorist group but it will bring in The Greedy Americans who will take this little chance to either setup their military base here and siphon us of the little one remaining that our legislooters and govathiefs left.. If Boko haram is branded terrorist group all Nigerians will suffer the fate and i believe the FG took this decision bearing in mind the fate of Innocent Nigerians..

We need to end boko haram on our own without the intervention of any western country and we can only do that when they northerners starts cooperating with security operatives by providing information's on those guys responsible for bombing cause they know who they are, until then let it ravage them in the north.

If you are praying for American intervention kindly look at the countries they intervened, those countries has never remained the same ever since and i bet if they intervene you will be the first to criticize the FG also.

Am sure most of u didn't read d message completely or don't even have an understandin of wat its like for ur country to ve a negative report and u are bein embarrased in d airport.. Don't sit in ur house and render insults on GEJ wen u don't ve d slightest idea of wat he is doin.. Nigerians and ova sabi!! Mtcheeew

Useless ppl, if bh ar not terrorists, den who are they? Somtin u av not bin able to handle and now it has grown to full blown terrorist grup, even threatenin mr president, yet, its not a terrorist group. It means they are federal govt group. Mumu pple kawai.

I sense selfish interest

Boko haram -- everywhere you go..dis guys get mouth ooo..d fear of boko boys is the begining of wisdom..Gej say so..

May Almighty God have mercy on us in nigeria.

what should boko haram then be called; a peace-keeping organization? It's better to call a spade a spade they are nothing less than terrorists. Now what more is a terrorist known for that is not found in boko haram's activities? Themselves know they are nothing but terrorists and that is what they should be called

please try to understand the point given fg says it will affect the ordinary nigerian too ,in terms of visa restrictions.money transfer restriction and other countries in eu will follow bh has nothing to lose even they themselves want to be listed as a terrorist org but the listing of a group of gangsters and murderers will have an impact on the lives of the remailng larger population

No! Boko haram is a playgroupm kindergerten

pcnwamadi: Am sure most of u didn't read d message completely or don't even have an understandin of wat its like for ur country to ve a negative report and u are bein embarrased in d airport.. Don't sit in ur house and render insults on GEJ wen u don't ve d slightest idea of wat he is doin.. Nigerians and ova sabi!! Mtcheeew

pcnwamadi: Am sure most of u didn't read d message completely or don't even have an understandin of wat its like for ur country to ve a negative report and u are bein embarrased in d airport.. Don't sit in ur house and render insults on GEJ wen u don't ve d slightest idea of wat he is doin.. Nigerians and ova sabi!! Mtcheeew

pcnwamadi: Am sure most of u didn't read d message completely or don't even have an understandin of wat its like for ur country to ve a negative report and u are bein embarrased in d airport.. Don't sit in ur house and render insults on GEJ wen u don't ve d slightest idea of wat he is doin.. Nigerians and ova sabi!! Mtcheeew

I wonder for this forum sef, some people are just here to insults Jonathan without being worried that they are too dull to understand any post, even if it is an idea to better their life.

I see no reason why some learned people did not allow school pass through them but just passed through school to know how to read and not how to understand. I have neva supported GEJ for once but this move of not allowing the us use their propaganda to escalate the issue of BOKO Haram is a welcome development cos this move will save many nigerians from being stigmatised in every country they are. How many are the BH boys I bet u not up to 100,000 and they want to take 150 million people to ransom once declared international terrorist group nigeria passport and nigerian all over the world will be seen as Bokoi Haram. May God help us resolve this issue ourselves in our own way.

D reasons given by d govt is on point. D whole country cannot suffer because of dis vipers call bh. GEJ is been human, and i think he should be commended.
He knows d implication of being tagged a terrorist, to me he has done well

Can FG pls tell us wat they are if they are not terrorist what are they?

Me go fear diz americans modan d boko boiz by d tym they establish their base here o! E beta mek dem leav us tacke our situatn alone,greedy oyibos!

What an irony,is there a better name to call the deadliest and heartless group that have emanated from this county than TERRORIST? A group that kills at will, a group that has inflicted the most pain on Nigerians that any other in the country (not even MEND come close),a group that has threatened the peace and stability of this great nation to the extent that we all nurse doubt of a possible disintegration before 2015.
If Boko Haram is not a terrorist group then what are they,a charity organisation who takes lives whenever thay wish.
Its disheartening how incompetent the people running this government are,we are hopeless till 2015,who knows even beyond 2015.

so the international world are not watchin or knows wat is going on here,ooh because FG said the BH are nt terrorist n they should blive they are nt.wobbish

we are thinking security of life and property which such designation as FTO might bring to life.
the president is taking about airport and foreign countries insult such designation might cause .

if bh is listed as a terrorist organisation it means nigeria and nigerian too are listed as terrorist,this will lead to a lot of restrictions on trade and bi lateral relationship with other western countries i am sure all those wanting to go and study in canada and other countries will find it very very difficult,trade will be affected and we must remember to list is easy but to delist nigeria and boko haram will take years and will be very difficult.and since we all know those behind it and why i dont the reaso we should put 160 milion ppl in probelm.that was why the us govt seperated the leaders of bh from the group and listesd the leaaders as terrorists