krendo:

[size=18pt]wetin dey brilliant about acting president telling the world that he has no access to a sick substative president because of his wife?[/size]

Lol . . . Almost anyone with good communication skill will do what he has done.
If he blvs that Iwu is not good, why keeping him around.
How come the minister of info is yet to tell us anything at all.
People are marching on a daily basis and no report from the govt of Uncle Jonathan.
I think they are all out of touch with reality.

tubabie:

^^^Am watching. . . . . The guy is intelligent and articulate.

That interview was poor in my eyes, but im still comfortable with jonathan's leadership style

Fhemmmy:

Lol . . .[b] Almost anyone with good communication skill will do what he has done.[/b]If he blvs that Iwu is not good, why keeping him around.
How come the minister of info is yet to tell us anything at all.
People are marching on a daily basis and no report from the govt of Uncle Jonathan.
I think they are all out of touch with reality.

sssshhhhh!!!! You wan make dem lynch you? You don't use common sense here. . . loose that each time you log on to Nairaland, will you?

Kobojunkie:

sssshhhhh!!!! You wan make dem lynch you? You don't use common sense here. . . loose that each time you log on to Nairaland, will you?

Lol

@Fhemmmy

Fhemmmy:

Lol . . .  Almost anyone with good communication skill will do what he has done.

Alas not every of our past leaders with high profile interviews that we have seen in the past have good communication skills or can manage to articulate their points without making us squirm in our sits with embarrassment. . . . . simples

Me thinks the dude was abit tensed simply because he probably hasn't done any unscripted interview with international media before.
So he is not an orator and i certainly don't give 2 monkeys about that.
He did answer the questions to the best of his abilities and was on point throughout the interview whilst appearing genuine at all times.

Amanpour CNN interview with Goodluck.

Not exactly the most eloquent politician around ,if you ask me  

At least we all had an idea of what he;s thinking.  

The most revealing part was where he said he could contest as VP !  

IBB-Goodluck,PDP ticket !- Marriage made in Ota !  

Just remember where you read it first  

illusion2:

The most revealing part was where he said he could contest as VP !

IBB-Goodluck,PDP ticket !- Marriage made in Ota !

GBAM
Bang on point

@FhemmmyQuote from: Fhemmmy on Today at 08:43:37 PM

Lol . . .  Almost anyone with good communication skill will do what he has done.

Its noting 2 Lol about. Lucky Joe was on CNN with a pundit like Amanpour. He was not in Aso Rock an a TV presenter I.e Sunny Irabor Live just badge in and arrange someting at the presidents convenoience.

Check d environment of d interview very well it is not too convenient. IBB and OBJ and Yar'dull. And likes can only wish 4 such in their wildest imagination

@Tubabe

That was well said

Having had a feel of NL responses, particularly those of you who are eagle-eyed with sense of smell sharper than that of shark that can smell blood from miles away, I think the concensus here is that :

1. He didn't disgrace us like those before him

2. Even though not excellent by many people's standard, at least he was good and demonstrated some level of intelligence, a commodity commonly and seriously lacking in many of those who have led us thus far ( to no where in particular!)

Give the man some credit, or better still, find time and listen to the interview, then you would definitely have some respect for him

Though, not a fan of Jonathan or any of our political leaders thus far (except of course they can now prove themselves), but what I can cautiously conclude is that you guys should watch out for this man. A man of his antecedent history, who strangely has enjoyed an unprecedented steep and fast rise to power (almost supersonically) might be destined for greater destiny in the affairs of this nation, even very much beyond our expectation

You mark my word. Just sit down and enjoy the show because you first heard it here

Good communication skills sometimes disappear in the face of hostility when confidence has left.

And you cannot claim to have a good communication with a matching intelligence otherwise what will you be communicating?

@haronky7

What an acumen?!!!. U figured for real

Nice interview Mr President.
I can help imagining OBJ's anwers to these same questions

Th

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/03/11/amanpour.nigeria.obasanjo.cnn

here is a link to an interview with OBJ and he states that the Yaradua saga can only happen in wonderland Nigeria
Funny

goodluck jonathan -nothing but a US pawn - he has no real power or authority just does as he's told like a good old house boy, amanpour knows it thats why she was asking him whether he'd done what his masters had instructed him to do and sack Iwu like a good little boy, but of course Jonathan had to act as if he actually makes his own decisions, the truth is he doesnt, the US got rid of Yaradua in order to make way for Jonathan a more pliable puppet, his visit to the US was to formalise everything that was agreed, this is why Jonathan is showing zero interest in the whereabouts of Yaradua, folks tighten your seat belts and get ready for a steep drop in whats left of your standard of living, nigeria is now officially a US colony - if you dont know what that means ask the Haitians - they say the average nigerian lives on less than $2 a day, who says nigerians dont know how to take their punishment with a cheerful smile, the most docile and passive set of individuals ever to walk the face of this planet.

cap28:

goodluck jonathan -nothing but a US pawn - he has no real power or authority just does as he's told like a good old house boy, amanpour knows it thats why she was asking him whether he'd done what his masters had instructed him to do and sack Iwu like a good little boy, but of course Jonathan had to act as if he actually makes his own decisions, the truth is he doesnt, the US got rid of Yaradua in order to make way for Jonathan a more pliable puppet, his visit to the US was to formalise everything that was agreed, this is why Jonathan is showing zero interest in the whereabouts of Yaradua, folks tighten your seat belts and get ready for a steep drop in whats left of your standard of living, nigeria is now officially a US colony - if you dont know what that means ask the Haitians - they say the average nigerian lives on less than $2 a day, who says nigerians dont know how to take their punishment with a cheerful smile, the most docile and passive set of individuals ever to walk the face of this planet.

I like your style sha. . . Just make everybody America's puppet, it makes life so simple.

cap28:

goodluck jonathan -nothing but a US pawn - he has no real power or authority just does as he's told like a good old house boy, amanpour knows it thats why she was asking him whether he'd done what his masters had instructed him to do and sack Iwu like a good little boy, but of course Jonathan had to act as if he actually makes his own decisions, the truth is he doesnt, the US got rid of Yaradua in order to make way for Jonathan a more pliable puppet, his visit to the US was to formalise everything that was agreed, this is why Jonathan is showing zero interest in the whereabouts of Yaradua, folks tighten your seat belts and get ready for a steep drop in whats left of your standard of living, nigeria is now officially a US colony - if you dont know what that means ask the Haitians - they say the average nigerian lives on less than $2 a day, who says nigerians dont know how to take their punishment with a cheerful smile, the most docile and passive set of individuals ever to walk the face of this planet.

Na fight? who are you angry with now? Jonathan or Nigerians or all? abeg take am easy o and try see you doctor.

Interesting to read.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-430684.0.html

Jonathan did a good job. . . this was his first major interview, so his delivery is definitely gonna improve after this.

cap28:

goodluck jonathan -nothing but a US pawn - he has no real power or authority just does as he's told like a good old house boy, amanpour knows it thats why she was asking him whether he'd done what his masters had instructed him to do and sack Iwu like a good little boy, but of course Jonathan had to act as if he actually makes his own decisions, the truth is he doesnt, the US got rid of Yaradua in order to make way for Jonathan a more pliable puppet, his visit to the US was to formalise everything that was agreed, this is why Jonathan is showing zero interest in the whereabouts of Yaradua, folks tighten your seat belts and get ready for a steep drop in whats left of your standard of living, nigeria is now officially a US colony - if you dont know what that means ask the Haitians - they say the average nigerian lives on less than $2 a day, who says nigerians dont know how to take their punishment with a cheerful smile, the most docile and passive set of individuals ever to walk the face of this planet.

[size=18pt]I'll prefer a 'US pawn' anyday, that'll deliver electricity,good rail network & jobs to nigerians,than a non-US pawn that steals all the money & buys property all over the world,leaving majority of Nigerians impoverished  [/size]

indeed goodluck

Beaf,
before you run go dey drink shekpe in celebration.
a few facts need to be stated;
say we dey impressed no be say the guy don do well, it is just that th threshold had been set so low due to his predecessors and his own past.
So low that it only needed little intelligence to scale the heights.
He has exceeded expectations but whether he has what it takes, time will tell.
If anyone was asked to name a leader or the country in these times, i doubt Jonathan will feature in a top 10 list but we have to make do with the hand nature and fate has dealt us.
Apart slowpoke sounding and moronic looking YarAdua, we have vad presidents who in the midst of their greed, selfishness and lack of a heart for the people have spoken the right words but when it comes to walking the talk, puff puff turns to buns.

Acting President:why didn't you allow me visit you rather you allow clerics?
President: you know you neva can tel,if i can't make aso rock then i should make heaven.

illusion2:

[size=18pt]I'll prefer a 'US pawn' anyday, that'll deliver electricity,good rail network & jobs to nigerians,than a non-US pawn that steals all the money & buys property all over the world,leaving majority of Nigerians impoverished [/size]

Right on point.
What has being an American puppet to do with price of tomatoes in the public markets. pshew

Quote from illusion
The most revealing part was where he said he could contest as VP

I gues u were under ilusion when u saw this stuff, the young man said that was what they asked him under the same circumstances in Bayelsa and he told them not to disturb him and if he can achieve nothing what will he tell Nigerians he wants to contest for, meaning dont ask about my presidential intentions at the right time I will unveil them and when I unveil them it will be backed with my achievements and chief among them would be power I mean Electricity.

mbulela:

Beaf,
before you run go dey drink shekpe in celebration.
a few facts need to be stated;
say we dey impressed no be say the guy don do well, it is just that th threshold had been set so low due to his predecessors and his own past.
So low that it only needed little intelligence to scale the heights.
He has exceeded expectations but whether he has what it takes, time will tell.
If anyone was asked to name a leader or the country in these times, i doubt Jonathan will feature in a top 10 list but we have to make do with the hand nature and fate has dealt us.
Apart slowpoke sounding and moronic looking YarAdua, we have vad presidents who in the midst of their greed, selfishness and lack of a heart for the people have spoken the right words but when it comes to walking the talk, puff puff turns to buns.

Yes we pray that Jonathan continues to deliver, because he is indeed doing so already. The cabal is all but gone, after holding Nigeria by the jugular since after the civil war. There is already a massive change in electricity supply (again, the vulture cabal is gone); these days, you can put a coke in the fridge and actually expect it to chill. Fuel queues are gone. MEND is quiet.
All the above have been done in the assured, but absolute silence that is Uncle Joe's hallmark. There is much more to come from this dude; we can now set our minds to developing in the North, South, East and West.

Nigerians will sing Halleluya!

The Ag. President's perfomance has disabused our minds of the notion that his rise has it's foundation purely in luck.
He has demonstrated that he possesses the stuff of which great statesmen are made (and not just a few drops).
We pray he turns out to be the messiah we have been waiting for.

marvix:

Quote from illusion
The most revealing part was where he said he could contest as VP

I gues u were under ilusion when u saw this stuff, the young man said that was what they asked him under the same circumstances in Bayelsa and he told them not to disturb him and if he can achieve nothing what will he tell Nigerians he wants to contest for, meaning dont ask about my presidential intentions at the right time I will unveil them and when I unveil them it will be backed with my achievements and chief among them would be power I mean Electricity.

Please watch the interview again. . he said. . " I can contest as president of as a VP to some one. . BUT that isn't the most important issue. . even Thisday analysed this http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=171024

So YOU are the one not listening properly

2011: Jonathan Fails to Rule Himself Out
•May consider being VP
By Paul Ohia with agency report, 04.15.2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took a middle-of-the road answer to questions on whether or not he would throw his hat into the ring for the presidential poll next year.
In an interview with Christianne Amanpour of Cable News Network (CNN) in the United States, Jonathan neither ruled himself out completely nor categorically said he would run for presidency in 2011.
He, however, declared that there are options for him such as running for Vice-President. Jonathan also said that he is currently preoccupied with the numerous challenges facing the country in order to make an impact in the shortest time possible.

When asked pointedly by the CNN correspondent if he was considering running for election, he replied with a rhetorical question.
“If the country is not moving, what will I tell Nigerians if I want to contest?”
He went on to narrate the circumstance of his emergence.
"I came in as the vice-president to run with President Yar’Adua, of course, getting close to period of election, he took ill. And I have to take over under somewhat controversial circumstances. Only last week, I reconstituted the cabinet. So let us see how Nigeria will move forward first. I had a similar experience when I was governor of my state.” he said
Jonathan said the most pressing problem Nigeria faces is basic infrastructure particularly electricity. The next, in his view, is the conduct of free and fair elections where the votes of the citizens would count.
On whether he has seen President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua since his return from medical trip in Saudi Arabia, the Acting President stated that he has not seen him because the thinking of the family is that the President should be isolated from key actors in government.

“I have not seen him. The Senate president has not seen him , and at every single government function, I have not seen him," he responded.
He agreed with Amanpour that the current state of things, with regard to the President, is causing anxiety within the country. He also insinuated that perhaps nothing can be done to influence the thinking of the family. He categorically said he would not want to force his way to see the ailing President.
Asked if he knows Yar'Adua's true state of health, Jonathan said only medical doctors can offer that information. He took the correspondent down the lane of events and pointed out that Nigerians were only told last year that the President was suffering from acute pericarditis. No other statement was issued regarding his state of health, he added.
On why Yar'Adua could receive religious leaders and ignore the Acting President, Jonathan said the visit of religious leaders might be for the purpose of blessing the President.

His words: “Well, religious leaders are there for blessings. Probably that is why they asked the religious leaders to go and pray for him. We are a very, very religious society.”
Jonathan could not agree that those around Yar’Adua are trying to undermine the cabinet.
“I wouldn’t say they are trying to undermine me because the laws of the land are very clear. And, of course, that is why in the first place constitution is designed for two people to be in charge of government at every time, one superior and one inferior.” he said
Asked if Yar’Adua can ever come back to office in full capacity, he stated that it would be difficult for mortals to say what would happen.
Jonathan promised to tackle the issue of corruption considering the fact that the country is regarded as one where people who are in government positions amass wealth at the expense of the society.

On whether he will remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Maurice Iwu, Jonathan said the issue is whether the present electoral body can conduct free and fair election or not.
He made reference to his address at the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) and stated: “On issue of the people at INEC, I told them that, look, between now and ending of June, most of the officials at the national level - they’re called commissioners - their tenure will end, and we’re going to review them on individual merit.”
He added that within the period that he has been Acting President, three elections were conducted by INEC and “ it was free and fair.” This, he argued, proves that the issue goes beyond the INEC commissioner. Anyone can conduct a free and fair election, he opined.
He recalled that last Saturday, a local council election was conducted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and “all the information is that, apart from one or two that had some few discrepancies, they have been very peaceful, very credible, So that is the issue. So the issue is beyond one person.”

He quickly pointed out that he was not defending the INEC chairman. On whether or not Iwu would be removed, Jonathan said all of them would be reviewed adding that any one of them found to be incompetent will “definitely go”.
Asked if Iwu is competent, the Acting President said: “I know that this question continues to come up. What I’ve said is, the issue is beyond Mr. Iwu.”
He continued: “I agree that within the period…there are quite a number of controversies. I agree. There are quite a number of concerns. There are quite a number of controversies. So I know what I’m telling you; that this very Iwu, I’m not trying to argue for him. The Iwu we are talking about has conducted free elections these past three elections that I’ve made reference to that are credible.”

The Acting President said Nigeria must set up an electoral system and regulations and laws that would ensure that anybody who is appointed to that office should be able to conduct acceptable elections.
Jonathan also spoke on the decision of former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to contest 2011 poll. He said that Babangida is free to contest the presidency.
“Other military leaders are interested in contesting the presidency, not only Banbagida , and they are all free. On that 11th day, Nigerian votes will count, and not me.” he said

He promised to re-energise the amnesty process in the Niger Delta region and explained why some militants are still restive.
His words: “What's happened is that people don't really understand total concept of the amnesty. The amnesty is divided into three phases. The disarmament phase - that is the phase where militants surrender their weapons; then rehabilitation phase.”
He gave an explanation of the Jos crisis. “There's a lot of settlers from the South-eastern part of Nigeria, from the South-western part of Nigeria and from the extreme North. So most of these settlers now play big in the economy, local economy. So the indigenous population feel that they have been excluded from the economy and that has been bringing conflict from the early '60s.
“Of course, we're also providing security, because, first of all, you must provide adequate security to make sure that people don't carry weapons and intimidate or kill others, so that is being done.”
The Acting President said he is appealing to the conscience of the residents through their leaders. "Both opinion leaders, both their religious leaders, both traditional leaders. And it is paying off.”
On his discussion with US President Barack Obama regarding Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried to blow up a US-bound plane last year, Jonathan described the incident as unfortunate.

Transcript :
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=171018

2011: ‘There are Options for Me’
04.15.2010

Transcript of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s interview with Christiane Amanpour as published on CNN website

Amanpour: Can I ask you first, what an extraordinary name. How did "Goodluck" come to be your name?
Jonathan: I don't know. I have to ask my father.
You don't know?
No.
Have you had good luck? And do you think you'll need more than good luck to face down the incredible array of challenges that's on your plate?
Well, the issue of good luck, I don't really believe that the good luck is an issue. But as the president, I've been facing myriad of challenges. What some people will attribute to good luck could have been disastrous under some circumstances.
Well, let me ask you this. You are now acting president, because the president, Mr. Yar'Adua, is unwell.
Yes.

Have you seen him since he has come back from his medical absence in Saudi Arabia?
No, I have not seen him.
Why not?
Well, when somebody is seriously ill, either the president or a citizen of Nigeria , and by virtue of being a president is a public figure, but still when you are seriously ill would respect the opinion of the family. And in the thinking of the family is that (inaudible) insulate him from most of the key actors in government.
I have not seen him. The Senate President has not seen him, district has not seen him, and (inaudible)
Doesn't that cause, when all the senior members of government, including yourself -- doesn't that cause anxiety amongst the people?

Yes, it does. It does. Obviously, it does, but we cannot over-influence his family's thinking.
Would you prefer that the family allowed you to visit him?
Yes, of course. But I will not want to force.
What is his actual state of health? This also is a mystery.
I can't say exactly. It's only the medical doctors that can.
Have they told you?
No, they haven't.
Have they made any public statements?

Not quite. Not now. At the beginning, yes, but (inaudible) left for Saudi Arabia , I think in the second week or so or within the first week we are told that he has acute pericarditis. After that, no other statement has been issued.
So if he can receive religious leaders, why can he not receive at least the acting president who's acting in his name?
Well, religious leaders are there for (inaudible) blessings. But probably that is why they asked the religious leaders to go and pray for him. We are a very, very religious society.
Do you believe that those around him -- his family, his loyalists -- are trying to undermine you or your new cabinet or your efforts as acting president?
I wouldn't say they were trying to undermine me, because the laws of the land are very clear.

Do you think he will ever come back to government?
I can't say that. It's difficult for any of us as mortals to say so.
So you are now acting president, and you have essentially a year, because elections will be held this time 2011.
Yes.
What is your most pressing issue?
The most pressing issue for Nigeria now, in terms of basic infrastructure, is power. What outside power,
You mean electricity?
Electricity. What outside that -- what is central to the minds of Nigerians now is an election that their votes will count, free and fair elections, because we've been accused of a country that our elections somehow questioned. And I promise Nigerians that they will surely get that, and I've done some experiments.

The next thing that Nigerians that worries about issues of corruption. I know we've been accused of (inaudible) government (inaudible) at the expense of society. So they expect us to take these two issues seriously.
So what can you do to take those issues seriously? Obviously, the issue of good governance, of free elections, free of corruption is central, and you heard the United States has also said just now that you must remove the head of the election commission, Mr. Maurice Iwu. Will you do that?
You see, the issue of the -- the electoral body -- the issue is that whether the president electoral body -- we called an Independent Electoral Commission, INEC -- can conduct free and fair election or not. And I told them that, yes, they can, because I have done it with the same people.
But issue of the people is INEC, I told them that, look, between now and ending of June, most of the officials at the national level -- they're called commissioners -- their tenure will end, and we're going to review them on individual merit. And if people will still cannot go back, we have to replace them.
Do you think he will stay or will he be removed? That's something that the U.S. ,
, among -- among the commissioners at the center that their tenure will end by June this year. And we are going to review,

So he will be out by June?
All of them we'll review. And any one of them that we feel is not competent definitely,
Do you feel that Mr. Iwu is competent?
(inaudible) I know that this question continues to come up. What I've said -- the issue is beyond Mr. Iwu.
I know. But I'm specifically talking about him, because it's come up in your meetings with U.S. officials.
Yes, I agree that within the period that he's chairing INEC, there are quite a number of controversies. I agree. There are quite a number of concerns. There are quite a number of controversies. There are a number -- the perception is that the feeling back home and in the international community is that he cannot conduct a free and fair election.
So I know what I'm telling you, that this (inaudible) Iwu, I'm not trying to (inaudible) for him. The Iwu we are talking about has conducted free elections. These past three elections (inaudible) credible.
So the issue is -- because the issue is beyond Iwu (inaudible) set up an electoral system and our regulations and laws that will make sure that anybody who is appointed to that office should be able to conduct acceptable elections. And that is my focus.

OK. Will you run in 2011? Will you present yourself as a presidential candidate?
For now, I don't want to think about it. I came in as the vice president to run with President Yar'Adua. Of course, getting close to -- to period of election he took ill, and I have to take over under somewhat controversial circumstances. Only last week, I reconsidered the cabinet.
So let us see Nigeria will move forward first. If the country is not moving, what -- what will I tell Nigerians I want to contest -- yes, I'm a politician and I would be interested in politics, since I'm still relatively young.
But the -- the reason I ask you is because,
Yes, but I cannot even tell myself now. I must assess myself.
I understand.
You cannot just wake up and say you want to contest an election to be the president of a country. First of all, you must say, can you really bring the dividends of (inaudible) three months after which we review ourselves. And I used to tell people, look,

if I'm not satisfied to what is happening (inaudible) election?
Well, I'm asking you because there is this informal agreement amongst various locations north and south which has been closely followed about taking turns at the presidency and that power must shift. For instance, Mr. Yar'Adua, who is from the north, has not even finished one term, and he should have a second term, according to your informal agreement. You're from the south.
Yes.
So it's kind of not your turn, so that's why I'm asking you -- and everybody's very interested as to whether you will present yourself for elections.

Yes, those interests are there.
I (inaudible) part of a lot of meetings in the ruling party (inaudible) even (inaudible) within the ruling party (inaudible) but, basically, the issue of whether I will contest or not is it (inaudible) I used to say that, if I contest elections, the elections in Nigeria are not only the presidency election, et cetera (inaudible) of Nigeria.
There are options for me if I want to contest election. I (inaudible) contest as a vice president or anybody. I can contest as a president, because the laws allow me. But that is not my own priority now.
My priority now is to see how, within this little period left, what impact can we show?
But let me just get something straight. You say that you can conduct and it's possible that you will contest, yes?
It is, of course.

Yes? It's possible that you will contest them?
These are options. I don't want to think about it.
One other question on elections. Mr. Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian military leader who seized power, essentially, and ruled for about eight years in the late '80s and '90s, says that he wants to contest them again in 2011. Is that acceptable?
He's very free. There is no law stopping Babangida from contesting. Babangida and any other military head of state is very free to contest.
What would that say about modern Nigeria ?
It depends on the people, and that's why we say that -- yes, it depends on -- I will say that the votes of the people must count. Babangida is a leader that has been head (inaudible) about eight years-plus, just like you said. Babangida has his friends. He has done some good jobs, even though some people may see -- nobody will be a leader that who will not see you from both left and right.

But as an individual, Babangida is very free to contest the presidency. Other military leaders are interested in contesting the presidency, not only Babangida, and they are all free. On that 11th day, Nigerian votes will count, and not me.
Mr. Acting President, one of your big challenges, as well, is to try to re-energize the peace process, the amnesty process in, in fact, your homeland, isn't it, the Niger Delta area?
(inaudible)
Exactly. So there was a whole system set in place, but it seems to be fraying, and there's a lot of concern, particularly given how vital it is as an oil-producing part of the world. What are you going to do about that?
Well, the amnesty process (inaudible) what's happened is that people don't really understand total concept of the amnesty. The amnesty is divided into three phases, the disarmament phase. That is the phase where militants surrender their weapons. Then rehabilitation phase and reintegration phase.

Some of these militants have been in that armed struggle for a very long time. And when young people are involved in carrying weapons against the state for very long time, there is a tendency for them to go into some forms of aberration-type behavior (inaudible) excessive alcohol or some of them they even (inaudible) so you have a process that you must follow.
After the disarmament, the next is rehabilitation. You have to rehabilitate them. Then you have to properly integrate them into the society. So during the process of rehabilitation, you must reorientate their thinking and make them to learn some skills that will enable them and a decent living through the proper reintegration process.
What's now -- we are trying to make the best -- up to this time, we have not gotten the kind of (inaudible) but now (inaudible) we (inaudible) Niger Delta before the minister of defense, who handled the disarmament, was also coordinating the rehabilitation, and that was giving us a lot of problems.

But now we are (inaudible) rehabilitation. The disarmament was the military exercise, so the minister of defense (inaudible) so the case of rehabilitation and reintegration has now moved into the hands of this president adviser to the president on the Niger Delta. We have a good program.
So by the first batch of trainees (inaudible) or so are going to move to their camps in the crossover state by the third week of April, so we have to do them in batches. The total number of militants (inaudible) 20,191 (inaudible) little more than 20,000 (inaudible) so it's a lot of youth. And it's not easy to manage those number of people.
What about Jos, which we just saw an explosion of violence there between Muslim and Christian? What can you do about that?
No, no, no, it's not a problem between Muslim and Christians. That is quite wrong, actually. The problem of Jos is -- Jos occupies a plateau, quite a high land area in Nigeria . And that's an area where a number of people settle outside the indigenous population. In fact, even when Lagos was a federal capital territory, most -- most Europeans who came to Nigeria, they preferred to stay in Jos.

Because of the elevation, the temperature is very low. It's like a sub-temperate climate where the temperature sometimes could drop up to minus two. No part of Nigeria that (inaudible) well, because of that climate and the mining of tin and others (inaudible) within that area.
So there's a lot of settlers from the southeastern part of Nigeria , from the southwestern part of Nigeria , and from the extreme north, so most of these settlers now play big in the economy, local economy. So the indigenous population feel that they have been excluded from the economy, and that has been bringing conflict from the early '60s.
But what can you do about it?
Of course, we have (inaudible) in terms of what we are doing, we are discussing with the traditional rulers, we are discussing with religious leaders, we are discussing with opinion leaders. That is to appeal to them, and they are responding.

Of course, we're also providing security, because, first of all, you must provide adequate security to make sure that people don't carry weapons and intimidate or kill others, so that is being done.
Then we also are appealing to their conscience using their leaders, both opinion leaders, both their religious leaders, both traditional leaders. And it is paying off.
It is paying off?
Yes.

Do you think that kind of violence will stop?
(inaudible) I cannot say it will stop completely, but our commitment is to make sure that it stops.
With issues like Jos or the Niger Delta, with the fact that, as you mentioned yourself, there's a severe power and electricity crisis, and all sorts of other issues, how do you make international investors feel confident? Even kidnappings there are, as you've said yourself, need to stop.
Realize Nigeria is a very big country. And some of these issues people raise in the media that makes it look as if the whole country is rampant.
It's not quite so. We have a letter of international investors (inaudible) even in the Niger Delta, you have the oil companies (inaudible) everywhere.

Yes, we have these occasional issues of kidnapping, but it doesn't stop. But we are also strengthening the local security system, the police force. We are trying to set up a special fund to make sure that we're strengthening the police to maintain law and order.
In addition to making sure that we provide what the people will need and appeal to different groups, to see reason why (inaudible) we are also doing what we think is right to increase the security, because you must secure the area.
You've just had meetings with President Obama. What was the most important issue that you discussed? I know President Obama discussed many things, including the issue of a joint fight against terrorism.
Yes, of course,

It was the Nigerian youth who tried to set himself and set a plane on fire over the United States .
Of course, that is an unfortunate incident. But I know you know more than me. When that issue came up, it was a global issue, and everybody traced the history of a young man. This man -- this young man left Nigeria long ago, and he got indoctrinated in the West.
But do you nonetheless think it's an issue that has to be combated, terrorism?
Of course. Nigeria -- you know that the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Nigeria is one of the countries that signed it. We believe that the whole globe must be peaceful. We cannot (inaudible) cannot encourage that. Nigerians are not terrorists.

We know the problem as African leaders. We are suffering from the use of small arms and light weapons. In fact, in Africa, the use of small arms and light weapons is more devastating to us than even the issue of nuclear terrorism, because Africans have died from small arms and light weapons, more than the nuclear terrorism, because most of these weapons used in the former Soviet Union are no longer relevant, and they've all been shipped into Africa.
Most of the small arms and light weapons manufactured in America and other -- in European countries are shipped down to Africa , and this is a cost of most of this crisis we're having, this insecurity we're having, so we totally support.

You've got 12 months, essentially, to enact the reforms you're talking about, bringing about the changes, whether it's to election law, whether it's to the issue of peace. How much do you really think you can achieve in this short period of time?
We'll do our best. Some of this (inaudible) human issues that you can achieve significantly, like we talk about electoral reforms and conducting clean elections. We don't need 100 years to do that. We don't even need a year to do that, because they're human factors. And a few months, we should be able to set up a system that can conduct free and fair elections.
But all that is like basic infrastructure that needs a period that -- that you conceptualize it, you figure out the design, you figure the planning, environmental assessment, and so on before you the physical execution of the projects. Those ones will take some time.

But still, people will see that you've set up a clear roadmap. If you think the most challenging infrastructure that we have, the power infrastructure, the electric power infrastructure, we must set up a clear agenda that people will know that we are moving forward and we have milestones that we can benchmark you.
Definitely a government that -- we have 12 months, and especially -- especially it's an election period. Immediately after elections, governments activities tend to slow down because of, of course, they are key positions that are in government.
So we have that kind of a challenge. We don't really even have 12 months. We can't even claim to have 5 months. But what we promise is that within the shortest possible time, we take (inaudible) cannot take everything. We take the things that we believe we can leave some footprints, but most importantly for Nigerians to see that we are -- we are serious and we are committed.

He's intelligent which can be see or which was reflected in the way He answered the questions. Moreover, His tone did not dipict that of anger or resentment for any. good beginning and wishing u more days ahead.

Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very impressive,

Linguist:

He's intelligent which can be see or which was reflected in the way He answered the questions. Moreover, His tone did not dipict that of anger or resentment for any. good beginning and wishing u more days ahead.

As Intelligent as a PHD holder? YES, [size=13pt]he holds a PHD so I would expect INTELLIGENT responses from a PHD Holder[/size] . DOes that then mean he is great Acting President? Time will tell but let us not get carried away with mere words.