President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured
all stakeholders including the United States of
America that the May 29 handover date was
sacrosanct.

He gave the assurance amidst calls by some
individuals including the National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), for the
postponement of the February general elections.
According to a statement released by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, the President gave the assurance during a
closed-door meeting he had with the United States
Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, at the State
House, Marina.

The statement was signed personally by the
President.
He said he had what he called “a candid and
constructive discussion” about a broad range of
issues with his guest.
He said he emphasised to Kerry that he was
deeply committed to ensuring that the elections
were free, fair and credible.

He added that he also promised his guest that
his government would provide all resources
required by the Independent National Electoral
Commission to conduct hitch-free elections.
Jonathan said, “I emphasised to Secretary Kerry
that I am deeply committed to ensuring that our
forthcoming election is free, fair, and credible.
“It is especially critical that all political parties
abide by the Abuja Accord, which commits each
to non-violence before, during, and after the
election.

“I made it absolutely clear that the May 29th
handover date is sacrosanct.
“In addition, the government will provide all
resources that are required by the Independent
National Electoral Commission to ensure that the
election goes smoothly.

“I also emphasised that INEC is an independent
body, which makes its own decisions without
any interference from the government.”
The President said he was grateful to the US for
standing with Nigeria and its people in the
nation’s fight against Boko Haram.
He said he reaffirmed his administration’s
commitment to working together with the US to
put an end to global terrorism and particularly
Boko Haram.

He promised that Nigeria would also work to
deepen and consolidate its bilateral relationship
with the US.
The President described Nigeria as a vibrant
democracy and the largest trading partner of the
US in Africa with over $18bn in bilateral trade.
He noted that the two countries and peoples
shared a mutual admiration for one another
and a deep commitment to freedom, democracy,
and human rights.

This, he explained, was why the two countries
were jointly engaged in a struggle against “a
common enemy that promotes terror, fear,
division, and violates human rights, most
especially of women and girls, with complete
impunity.”

The President added, “Winning the fight against
Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa is
absolutely essential to beat back the tide of
religious extremism around the world.
“Our security forces have been working tirelessly
and courageously to achieve this goal.
“I reaffirmed for Secretary Kerry that Nigeria is
strongly committed to building the
multinational task force to fight Boko Haram in
partnership with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and
Benin Republic under the auspices of the Lake
Chad Basin Commission.
“Indeed, I called publicly for such a regional
approach at the African leaders’ summit in Paris
in May 2014 and more recently in multilateral
meetings.

“We are pleased that the international
community is now strongly united behind this
initiative and agree that its success is critical.
“It is equally important that the multinational
force receives the significant support that is
required to address the threat through our global
partners.

“The United States, more than any other country
in the world, has the most experience fighting
armed insurgencies.
“And having suffered the devastating attacks of
9/11, its people also understand the insecurity
and fear that is the reality for the vast majority
of peaceful, tolerant Muslims and Christians in
north eastern Nigeria.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/may-29-handover-date-sacrosanct-jonathan-tells-us/