Lagos (AFP) - Nigerian 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.
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.
View galleryScreen grab from a video released by
Nigeria's …
Screen grab from a video released by Nigeria's
Boko Haram shows the leader of the Islamist extre
…
"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 northeastern Nigeria.
The Islamists have recently extended their violent
campaign into nations neighbouring Nigeria's
northeast as regional forces pursue them.

After how many years... Nonsense,, how will you under estimate something for more than five years,, the same way he has under estimated corruption and lies.... We will under estimate you when the time Comes

All hail the dunce monkey as president of Pigs Dig Pigs your end is near

okay

Underestimate
Nobody underestimates rebellion no matter how small it seems.
I thought thats what Borno State Governor tells the presidency when he visited Aso rock on which instead of helping the troops at the frontline the presidency resorted to personal attack on him, saying he dont know anything about military on the shameless NTA Network.
**Congratulations NTA personnel. Update your CV's and get into option B status. NTA is going to be fully privatised as a parting thank you for your campaign of calumny from GEJ cabinet. 1 more institution to add to the labour market**

After sleeping for 5yrs plus, Jonathan is now here to tell us he saw us in his Dream. Use your PVC and kick out Incompetence of this administration.

Vote Change. Sai Buhari.

[img]http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-S20RQIIAAQ5Dh.jpg:large[/img]

at least he's honest and not like some clueless general lieing his in London for a conference

GEJ TILL 2019

Are you surprised Am not what will you expect from a clueless president

We vote you out. it is too late, Mr President. Buhari to me is not a better alternative but we will vote him so that incompetent leaders like you will know and fear the people's ability to elect, select and deselect. Why should we endure another 4 years simply because we fear the unknown? and if Buhari does not perform well come 2019 we will vote him out too, maybe this way our leaders will start to lead and not take us, the masses, for granted.

March4Buhari