₦airaland Forum

President Goodluck Jonathan, thank you for joining me from Davos.

GOODLUCK JONATHAN, PRESIDENT, NIGERIA: Thank you.

AMANPOUR: Let me get straight to the matter. Today, on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is
testifying about Libya and about militant-ism in the region. And, she identified Boko Haram as the biggest
threat to one of the most important countries, namely your own. Do you see Boko Haram as a major
existential threat to Nigeria, right now?

JONATHAN: Definitely. Boko Haram, if it is not content, It would be a threat not only to Nigeria, but to West
Africa, Central Africa, and, of course, to North Africa, where, of course you know, some elements of Boko
Haram (inaudible) some of where the Al Qaeda's (inaudible) not in Mali, and other North African countries.
(inaudible) is why the Nigerian government is totally committed to work with (inaudible) our friendly
governments to make sure that we continue the programs in Mali, because as rightly said, the issue of
Libya try to create more programs in the sub-region. The I audibility of his voice only shows his lack of confidence and communication skills. I'll rate this response 50%

AMANPOUR: We have seen what has happened. You mention Mali, you mention Algeria. Is Nigeria
prepared, in case there is a terrorist attack like we just saw in Algeria, on a natural gas or an oil facility?
Again, you are the most significant exporter in the region.

JONATHAN: Of course, yes, of course. What happened in Algeria is quite unfortunate and, that's why all
the governments have been working there, and that, make sure that, we prevent excesses. Poor response. He didn't tell us how he's prepared.20%

AMANPOUR: Do you believe that Boko Haram is just a security threat for you or, as some others believe,
that it is also about resisting, misrule, and corruption and that there needs to be a different or an
additional way of dealing with it other than just military?

JONATHAN: No, no, no. Boko Haram is not, as the result of misrule -- definitely not. And sometimes, we'll
feel that it's the result of poverty- - definitely not. Boko Haram is a local terror group and we call on the
rest of the world to work with us, because now we are talking about Algeria. We're talking about
(inaudible) Mali. And, our belief is that, if you allow terror to exist in any part of the world, to not just
affect that country or that state, but it will affect the rest of the globe. And, that we should not play
politics with Boko Haram. Evading the issue once more. The question was on misrule and he shifted it to poverty. The ND militants too weren't poor but were fighting misrule. 30%

AMANPOUR: Mr. President, the United States believes that the security forces in Nigeria are driving more
people into the arms of Boko Haram and one NGO, at least, is quoted, as saying .
JONATHAN: How? 0%

AMANPOUR: . as saying .

JONATHAN: How? 0%

AMANPOUR: . that, how, by what they quote as indiscriminate security of, security measures, heavy
handed crack downs that round up thousands of people, whether they're civilians and children. People
who've got nothing to do with Boko Haram and they're also saying that the police, like in the last year or
so, have killed more people than Boko Haram has. So, my question is, do you admit that there is a problem
in the security dealing with it?

JONATHAN: That is not correct. That is not correct and I've said it severally. (inaudible) the insinuation by
some interest group. Very laughable 0%

AMANPOUR: Well.

JONATHAN: Definitely they are insinuations by some interest group. Laugable again. 0%

AMANPOUR: All right, so, one of those interest groups is the State Department of the United States. But, let
me ask you this,

JONATHAN: No, no, Retractive. fearful 10%

AMANPOUR: Yes, sir.

JONATHAN: People get the wrong information to the State Department of the United States, it is, State Department of the United States, they have the means of knowing the truth. They should tell (inaudible) the truth. You said the state department lied whereas they didn't. 30%

AMANPOUR: Well, well sir, let me just say.

(CROSS TALK) JONATHAN: They should not just listen to some people who have access to them, but they have means of knowing the truth. Like you dont have access to them. 0%

AMANPOUR: All right, well, the United States Assistant Secretary of State has said that the methods of the crackdown is inflaming the population and inflaming the situation. Let me move onto the issue of corruption. When I interviewed you three years ago, now, in your first interview, as you assumed power, you said, that the main issues for the people of Nigeria are corruption and even electricity. Power, you talked about. Well today, those are still the same issues. Some sixty percent of the people of Nigeria don't have enough or regular power, regular electricity. They're constantly shortages and outages. Three years later, what do you have to say about that?

JONATHAN: I would have loved that you, (inaudible) not on Nigeria and (inaudible) discretion of a power. That is one area that Nigerian's are quite pleased with the government that commitment to improve power -- it's working. So, if you are saying something different, I am really surprised. That is one area, one area that even (inaudible) members agree that government has kept fate, which as promised. This man sure doesnt know whats going on. nder OBJ. there was more actvity that this and still no electricty. 0%

AMANPOUR: So, what should I tell the people who keep contacting us and say, they hope they have electricity just to be able to watch this interview on their televisions? Clearly, it is still a big problem. Is it still a big problem, despite that you say, the progress that you say you've made?

JONATHAN: We are not quite where we should be, and of course you know the power infrastructure is one investment that you must complete the (inaudible) before the ball collides. You must generate, you must transmit, you must (inaudible), and even if you have the money and the political will to do so, you cannot do it overnight. And we are working very hard and I promise you that, before the end of this year how I will be reasonably stable in Nigeria. This is something that has been a problem for years, for years. So, you cannot correct it overnight. It takes time, even if you have the money. Last year, we were to have enough electrcity before the year ran out. its another January, another story time 0%

AMANPOUR: I'm sure that will be a relief. Obviously you do sit atop massive reserves of natural gas andthat leads me to the whole issue of corruption, which you say you're trying to tackle. And, when peoplelook at Nigeria, and see all your wealth, they say, oh my goodness this is a country that is stealing andbleeding itself dry. Even your own Minister, you Minister of Finance has talked about, you know, just thispast April, perhaps four hundred thousand barrels of oil a day, simply being stolen, simply disappearing without any account. One of your Minister's has said that the level of theft from the country from the government amounts to about seven billion dollars a year. That's still a problem isn't it?

JONATHAN: If I want to talk about crude oil and stealing, yes. I agree with you. Frankly speaking, onceinternational community to support Nigeria, because crude has been bought by refine artists abroad. And, they know the crude oil is stolen. The world must condemn what is wrong. This (inaudible) crude is refined abroad. It's not refined in Nigeria. So? is that an excuse for not securing your borders? what about those refined in illegal refineries all over the Niger Delta? I guess they make their purchases from the Shell NNPC JV oil wells10%

AMANPOUR: President Goodluck Jonathan, thank you very much for joining me.

JONATHAN: Thank you.

AMANPOUR: And, the President tells me there has been some important progress, since last time wespoke. He says the election system has been cleaned up and he's right about that. International observers praise the 2011 elections, calling them a big step forward for Africa's most populous country. But, Nigeria remains a nation full of ironies. As we just said, it's rich in oil, but it rarely flows down to the people, except this way. Take a look. A river polluted by an oil spill is the playground for these kids in Nigeria's Delta (ph) Region and that is not the exception. And as we also said, Nigeria's oil pipe lines are targeted by thieves, who sell the precious crude and leave behind a toxic nightmare.

These idiotic crazy people again. An innocent child. God punish them