President Jonathan held a media chat this evening and below
are a few important points he put across.
He said in Lagos, on 38% of people have their PVCs, so if
elections are held, 62% will not be able to vote.
About Boko Haram, he said there is no hiding place for the
terrorist group. That he had meetings with the President of
Chad and he said before he can send troops to Nigeria, the
AU have to be involved. He also said Boko Haram doesn't
necessarily have to be completely wiped out before elections
are conducted. He also said taking over the territories
captured by Boko Haram does not mean that the group have
been wiped out.
About INEC chairman Prof Jega, he said he has the
constitutional right to appoint and the right to remove but he
never told anyone that he's planning to remove Jega.
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GEJ said INEC is an independent body but if they don't
conduct the elections well, it will be on his head. He said
people shouldn't doubt that the elections will hold. That it
must hold.
Asked about his 'Stealing is not corruption' comment,
president Jonathan said he never said stealing is not
corruption -
"The word corruption we have abused it and it's not
making so much sense. I did not say stealing is not
corruption. I made that statement in reference to ex-
CJN, Justice Musdapher. A thief should be called a thief.
Ole should be called ole! If you say somebody is corrupt
people don't know what you mean". He added "A thief is
a thief. Don't use the word corruption to cover stealing.
Call the person a thief"
He said the ICPC is the only agency that is expected to deal
with corruption and not even the EFCC.
On the election, he said if the elections are conducted and he
loses, Nigeria will definitely inaugurate a new govt
"Let me reassure Nigerians that elections will be
conducted in this country and a govt will be inaugurated
on May 29th" He said
He said there's absolutely no truth in him not wanting to
relinquish power. That it's not right for anybody to want to
contest an election and not be willing to take the outcome.
About his political campaign ads, he said he doesn't know
most of the people placing one form of advert or the other
About Buhari, GEJ said the key actors around him in 2011 are
different from those around him in 2011. When asked to
assess Buhari, GEJ refused saying it will not be proper. "The
insult that I have to carry is enormous" he said.
When asked why he only goes to churches and not mosques,
GEJ replied "I’m united by different people. I can’t attend
ceremonies that I’m not invited to
On $9.3m seized in South Africa, GEJ said the matter is in
court and Nigeria will get the money back
