Jonathan asks insurgents to surrender arms

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked insurgents to surrender their arms and come forward for rehabilitation.

In his address to mark Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary, Jonathan commended the armed forces for their successes in the war against terror in north-eastern Nigeria.

“To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace,” he said.

He also opened the door to dialogue.

“To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue,” he said.

The president expressed his gratitude to the security forces.

He said: “Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.

“Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess and determination.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.”

While listing the achievements of his administration, he called on political leaders not to overheat the polity ahead of the general election.

“As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence.  Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.

“The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.

“We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal,” he said.