On Friday in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan granted his first 2015 interview to a Western media, The Wall Street Journal. He talked about his chances at the postponed election and dealing with Boko Haram.
In his interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Goodluck Jonathan insists the U.S. must help Nigeria in dealing with Boko Haram. Photo credit: Benedicte Kurzen/Noor for The Wall Street Journal
Since early 2014, Nigeria has been asking the U.S. to assist in fighting Boko Haram by sending combat soldiers and military advisers to Nigeria, Jonathan said in the interview. He cited intelligence reports as holding proof to the fact that the Islamist militants have ties to and are sponsored by Islamic State, the jihadist group with its leadership based in Iraq and Syria.
“Are they not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria?” Mr. Jonathan queried. “Look, they are our friends. If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the U.S. to come and assist us.”
The WSJ journalist then quotes the senior official at the U.S. State Department as saying they hadn’t received any request for troops from Jonathan’s government. The Pentagon official said there were no plans to unilaterally send U.S. troops to Nigeria. There are, however, plans for the U.S. to participate in a multinational task force with African nations to assist Nigeria.
“The U.S. maintains a drone base in Chad, from which it conducts surveillance flights to monitor Boko Haram. It has provided training and some equipment to the Nigerian military, including $80 million of such support last year alone. Some U.S. legislators have said they want Special Forces troops shipped to Nigeria to help combat Boko Haram.
“But various issues have prevented closer cooperation,” the WSJ notes. “Training exercises with the army have been canceled over equipment disputes. Allegations that Nigeria’s military is guilty of grave human-rights abuses in battling Boko Haram—charges that Mr. Jonathan asserts are overblown—cloud the relationship. Many U.S. officials doubt that Islamic State would be able to forge a working partnership with a distant insurgency like Boko Haram, although the two groups voice mutual admiration.”
Speaking about current hardships he faces in office and the election struggle, Jonathan was optimistic and philosophic:“It’s only the dead person that does not face problems.”
Common sense is indeed not common.
Posted: at 14-02-2015 11:41 PM (10 years ago) | Hero
DJSNIPPER at 15-02-2015 12:19 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Perhaps US bombings of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Vietnam, etc. do not constitute indiscriminate killing of civilians. Only Nigerian soldiers' killing qualify the term indiscriminate. What matters most to the US is the inevitability of their prediction that Nigeria would disintegrate next year. They want to be seen as world dibias, clairvoyants or soothsayers. I am on their side on this occasion because black African leaders have shown that they never heard of the slave trade when millions of their kith and kin were shipped to the Americas to cultivate sugar came plantation and push the industrial revolution in Britain. Rather than ask the US to help us with arms, we should ask them to help us peacefully divide Nigeria into three or more countries.
Posted: at 15-02-2015 12:19 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
osarobo62 at 15-02-2015 01:51 AM (10 years ago) (m)
who told you the US is your friend . Boko haram is a Nigeria problem and should be dealt with by Nigerians only. if you had bought good and genuine weapons with all the military budgets ever since,instead of stealing the money, boko haram would have been crushed by now.
Posted: at 15-02-2015 01:51 AM (10 years ago) | Hero
You are not only confused but you don’t know what’s happening around you and in Nigeria. Don't depend on others.....U.S.A. is no longer interested in Nigeria's (Oyele)......Oil .....therefore there is no need for them to invest their resources on Nigeria.
The relationship between the western world, U.S.A and Nigeria is that of "The Master and the Slave" ....it has been like that for a little while even before Jonathan's administration.
Posted: at 15-02-2015 04:35 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Get rid of these sleep generals below and send the self-acclaimed “Mr. Tough Guy The Rambo” the Assistant IGP threatening mass murderer but a chicken in the person of Mbu J. Mbu to Borno State or Sambisa forest… ….and bring back the “ 300 Chibok Girls”……..
Nothing will be achieved in six weeks.......
Posted: at 15-02-2015 05:31 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
who told you the US is your friend . Boko haram is a Nigeria problem and should be dealt with by Nigerians only. if you had bought good and genuine weapons with all the military budgets ever since,instead of stealing the money, boko haram would have been crushed by now.
You are very right ..... $50 billion is still missing .... ....that amount walked away with man-made legs.
The president is power drunk....
Posted: at 15-02-2015 05:40 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
princeifeyco at 15-02-2015 08:52 AM (10 years ago) (m)
U.S. is nt n w never be ur friend, if ur waiting 4 them to help u fight boko haram, they will push u out of that office, don't u know th r behind boko haram, they war the started in iraq Syria, lybya is still dere, last time, the said the can not do anything in Iraq, meaning they r tired, put urself together, I know with African union, you people can go along way in combating boko haram, long live Biafra.
Posted: at 15-02-2015 08:52 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
if gej is smart he should have formed a presidential advisory committee comprising of ibb, obj, gmb, gowon, ty dan juma, n all past security heads frm igs to sss dir to assist him draw out a plan. cos the sooner he dumps men like edwin clark n asari d beta for him
Posted: at 15-02-2015 10:11 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
. Boko haram is a Nigeria problem and should be dealt with by Nigerians only.
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