President Goodluck Jonathan says he will “surely” win the 2015 presidential election which will hold on March 28.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Jonathan said categorically: “I’ll surely win.”
The election is generally expected to be very tough, with many analysts concluding that Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would win.
The postponement of the election from the original February 14 date was attributed to the fear of losing by Jonathan, but the president told the BBC he is confident of winning the election.
Advertisement
He also spoke on the Boko Haram insurgents, admitting for the first time that they were initially underrated by the government.
But now he said they are getting weaker and all territories under their control would be retaken within a month.
“They are getting weaker and weaker by the day,” he said.
Advertisement
“I’m very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in their [Boko Haram’s] hands.”
While admitting that the authorities had “under-estimated” the militants, he also reiterated that the military lacked the resources to fight them until now.
Jonathan said that newly acquired military equipment, as well as co-operation with neighbouring countries, had helped push the insurgents out.
On the Chibok girls, he said he was hopeful they are still alive and some of them may be at the Sambisa forest.
Advertisement
Kenneth Minimah, a lieutenant general and chief of army staff, said during the week that there were no traces of the girls yet in all the towns and villages retaken from Boko Haram.
48 comments
i thought before now, the president had been singing the same song; we know where the girls are. Has he suddenly changed his song to we are hopeful. Nigeria government is synonymous with lieing.
Please allow our president to be candid. And please stop insulting our president.
Only God the country you come from to call Nigerians liars.
@Farouk I can understand your zeal in trying to defend your nation. That’s very patriotic but please read @jay comment well. He/She never said Nigerians are liars. PS: I’m a Nigerian also.
People don’t study to understand before rushing to comment and that’s the problem with people following and supporting the wrong choice because of misunderstanding
His victory is a victory for the million of farmers who now have access to fertilizers, seedlings, pesticides and implements at heavily subsidized rate, the over 3 million Rice farmers in the north west who now cultivate over 600000 hecters of farmlands n harvest about 10 tonnes/hecter instead of 2 tonnes before coutersy of availability of improved seedlings provided by the FG.
Jonathan’s victory is sure bcos beneficiaries of the 220 Billion MSMEDF for small biz and 200 Billion for commercial Agric will be the voters on election day.
Jonathan is sure of victory the users of the 22 airports he is remodeling and road users who travel through the over 25000 FG roads he has built across Nigeria have assured him of their votes.
The Palm and cocoa farmers who now recieve seedlings free of charge from FG are in their thousands and have blocked their votes for him. Same for parents and guardiens of thousands of Almajiri who now study in airconditioned classrooms and sleep in airconditioned dormitories away from motor parks and hunger.
These are the voters on election day who don’t have access to the internet or are too busy to spend time there to say nothing is working.
These are the real voters that’s why the president is so sure and he is right.
I am surprised at our shameful defence for a failed government. These are your scorecard for a government that has earned billions of dollars in 6 years from oil at peak price above $120/barrel. This is shameful
If this is your honest accessment of 6 years of leadership, if these are all you can show after 6 years of huge oil income, if these are satisfactory to you, then I can sure say that many Nigerians hate Nigeria. Let us try and tell our self the truth. Is this ship Nigeria sailing on the right course. Salam, food for thought
Gej is not naijas problem, we Nigerians re d cause of our problem. Most of u shouting here don’t be put we ve state, local government, senators and reps members. Wat ve dese oda pple done to improve the state of d common man. Dey re grassroot, closer to d masses. Every finger points to d top. Wat is d function of allocation to state, local government and constituency allowances. Just passing by
I love you and your comment
God will surely forgive you! are talking about NIgeria farmers or or overseas farmers you’re importing their grains to Nigeria
Your comment..You are surely deceiving yourself! Go ask the farmers to tell you where they stand. I’ve done that and I’ve discovered what they want to do with their votes! Armchair analysis won’t work this time around, biko?
This is a very cheap campaign and if you know better, give us names of the beneficiaries of the fertilisers and small business owners. Meanwhile, the constructed roads remain in the imagination of many of us in the southwest, even the few we have are closed down when GEJ is around especially in Lagos. I cannot say he has achieved nothing but I am very sure the performance is far below average.
Am sure u are not a nigerian if u are then may be u are still collecting food money because when OBJ was the president rice was N5000 or N6000per. BAg but now that GEJ has cr8 600000 hactre of land $ many fertilizer subsidized for the farmers as u have been decieved then rice is now N9000 to N10000 per bag to u dats a gr8 success swuuuuuu u just listen to figures $ TV lies. Pls be sure b4 u copy $ paste
@salam good job. They all want to kill Jonathan as if they will do better as president. Which of them can boast of honesty even in irrelevant matters. The message is simple GMB can be your president come 2019. Period!
A simple question I wish to ask is what has the effect of all the millions of lands cultivation translated to in terms of cost of food in Nigeria or how much dollars has been raked in from exportation of this bumper harvest. We like deceit alot. Don’t be blank man!
I share in your view, the real voters for President GEJ in Blocks are the people who have directly or indirectly benefited from the transformation agenda. Those that are sincere to themselves and probably not the enlightened few on the web who are blinded by sentiments not to see the modest achievements of the GEJ’s administration. For any discerning mind, it better to do sectoral analysis of the performance of the administration by doing comparative analysis of before 2010 and now and it will be clear that GEJ’ govt. & some of our governors have made giant strides. It’s al-right to criticise objectively but also proffer solutions. I urge Nigerians to get involved in governance by taking advantage of the FOI bill and also ensuring that monies approved for projects are properly applied and utilised. Let us stop the blame game and get involved. God bless Nigeria.
Farouk, I am surprised you’re in denial that Jona is a liar. I bet you must be from a different planet.
When the head is rotten, what do you expect of the body?
Where is security in this country . Jonathan has never talk about how he will keep the citizen safe I was at lekki last Thursday visiting Nigeria for the first time I almost got kill by the bank rubbers.
Jonathan apart from looting what do you have for the country. I think is about time for you and your party to hit the road and never come back again you’ve stolen enough you’ve damaged so many life you’ve kill so many dreams you’ve ruin so many life I know you’ve visited so many country around the world I don’t know how you sleep at night after each trips with the condition of Nigeria .
Give it up and let somebody else try .
U jus came to NIGERIA for d first tym, & there was a bank robbery? Where did u come from?u ‘v not heard of any robbery attack in dat country? Jus tell me, I dnt know why u ppl wil keep on livin wit negativity? U didn’t see anytin positive? Then u r blind.
Fellow Nigerians,
Can we just make a simple analysis of the state of our dear nation Nigeria by looking at hope the PDP govt had managed our nation and think deeply whether they can be given another chance in this very election. It is not about President Jonathan Personality, but about 16 years of vision-less governance. Does it mean PDP could not solve stable electricity problem in 16yrs? on the Issue of Corruption, impunity, moral values that build up the society, PDP had not demonstrated leadership and good example,e.g Farouk Lawal (Mr. Integrity)vs Femi Otedola how the matter concluded? can we say this govt had transparently and fairly handled the affairs of 170 million Nigerians? What about the immigration employment stamped that resulted into death of prospective employee and the promises by the FG? Which of the committment had been honoured as at the time of this election? Rather more promises that is obvious will not be kept are been made. The truth is that PDP led govt is at the point of diminishing returns and if Nig should give GEJ this opportunity, we are yet to see and experience impunity and lawlessness, lackluster governance as he knows there will not anymore thing to seek from us anymore. if we have traveled on a path for 16 years and we are not seeing result, i think it is time to change direction. The cost of operating business and our homes is very high due to lack of stable electricity, most buz practically run more on generator, most people hire private security, most nigerian sink borehole for private water supply, these is the experience of most nigerians. the truth is that the majority are not feeling the impact and dividend of democracy. As APC emerge to the alternative party, let give them a chance in this election and if in the next 4 yrs they do not perform, we will also change them via our votes, this is the modern way of holding people in pubic offices accountable.
Please let me teach you a little, there is no law & no book that will permit you to insult your leaders just like your parents because every authority that you see are actually ordained of God, therefore there are answerable to God, thank God we have democracy, then use it to humbly & quietly vote him out if you so wish, but be careful the choice that you are making. Again mind your language because your life will surely go in the direction of your word, because there is the power of life & death in the tongue, so what you say is what you will get. If the head is rotten what of the body. I ask who is the body? Answer= Nigerians, so who are you, so you can understand a bit of what I am talking about. God bless Nigeria, God bless Nigerians & God bless our leaders with great grace & wisdom to leader always with the fear of God in JESUS name amen.
Amen
Who is the somebody else abeg? If you are a real Nigerian living in Lagos as you put it you will know that the worst thing that can happen is to let the Angry Peoples Confraternity to be at the helms of affairs in this country. Remember that states also got windfall from the excess oil funds. Name one state that has done well. I am sure you will be quick to name Lagos, but I am sorry to disappoint you Lagos under a Tinubu-less government would have recorded far greater achievement . With the amount of IGR Lagos earns development is not and I say NOT commensurate with funds earned from both IGR+excess crude funds. If you do move around in Nigeria you would also be aware that if I leave Ajah at 7am for Benin via Epe on a Monday and you leave for V/I I would probably get to Benin before you get to V/I. Such is state of new roads done by GEJ compared to Lagos Hitech Ajah toll gate road. If one man can earn from all APC states and is presently controlling the party called APC then there is danger. Nigeria cannot afford to be controlled by the little finger on one man like the South west is presently. It is shameful when I see APC rallies and Tinubu is portrayed as a saint , it just says a lot about the change the party is shouting about. Even Madam speaker is now in the fray. Sickening enough when Abike Dabiri called him Asiwaju of Lagos. Now that the OPC have turned their back on APC can they really lay claim to Lagos? Not even Oyo, and definitely not Osun where Aregbesola has messed them up big time. Ondo is out of the question and Ekiti is Fayose’s bit. So why won’t PDP say they think they can swing it.
Why have you not left Lagos for a state that’s under the PDP since you think the APC has ruined here?
Everything said here is accurate except where the writer mention the President just admitted for the 1st time his government underrated BH. At several fora in the last 2 months he has mentioned the fact that his government underrated BH. I would expect Thecable to be a better version of Sahara reporters.
People should be truthful in their comments and analysis.The question is Do we really have a government in Nigeria. I think most people don`t understand deeply the functions of government in a country. As far as am concerned, the GEJ administration has failed this country. GEJ has a very weak carriage as a President. He seems to not be in control. He lack the power of decision making. He has not demonstrated leadership and commitment to lead people. It is high time in this country that we stop worshiping money and be committed to build a nation for the prosperity of all, where peace, justice and equity reigns. Governance is not about religion, ethnicity, greed and selfishness as paraded by a whole lot of our people and politicians. Governance is all about care, nation building, development, peace, prosperity and trust for the common good of the citizens. We must breakaway from the past and face the future of our country with zeal and commitment to be respected by the globe as a country where peace and tranquility reigns. Budgets and planning must be done with the future in view. Not the away this clueless politicians are doing it now. I believe, we have people with integrity, sound ideological minds to take over the realms of governance in this country. Not thieves and greedy people that we currently parades in the helms of affairs. God bless Nigeria
Read more at: http://www.thecable.ng/just-jonathan-tells-bbc-will-surely-win | TheCable
Where did you get all these? to me, its all fictitious…; people should have their facts and not sentiments.Tinubu SHOULD not be allowed to ‘conscript’ NIGERIA.
Pls post my comment…
We don’t have your comment, kindly resend. Regards
Judge Jonathan by his achievements not on sentiments. Even the security opposition is mouthing everyday is subjective bcos terror is a global issue n our brothers here in the north has not help matters by not cooperating with security agencies well. In a region where you have elders like Alh. Ali munguno, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Dr. Junaid mohammed, dr Ahmed Datti etc no progress can be made in fighting terror that’s why all the FDIs flowing into Nigeria are heading down South and this so called Leaders don’t care about what we are loosing.
All they do is to tell hapless northerners that when buhari becomes president everything will be free for them.
Jonathan has built 125 model almajiri schools all over the north yet these our so called leaders go round discouraging people from sending their children there bcos according to them Arabic is superior to English. Jonathan brought polio vaccines they discourage people from taking them for religious purposes.
To make matters worst, the buhari they are banking on was selected by Tinubu after consultation with Buhari to shortchange us in the north again the way he did with Umoru’s case.
Another four years for Jonathan is better for us in the north bcos it will give us enough time to plan our future without the likes of all these self serving elders. That’s all.
Salam, U are on-point my brother
Where are you from? For what are you doing this?
I believe he stand for victory.
God bless you Salami, you’ve said it all… Let he that has ear and eyes hear and see. God bless my country Nigeria
Love your comment.
Your comment..God bless you Salam for your comments.
GEJ is d best president Nigeria has ever had. Pls try to check his records and compare it with others. you are talking now bcos he gave you that freedom thru the FOI bill.
may GOD choose for us in this nation someone who will take us to our cannan land,the land of promise flowing with milk and honey.it doesn’t matter whoever the person is.we need a “Moses” of our time.it could be me or you or anyone,let God choose.
Whoever that means well for Nigeria should vote GEJ.I will Cast my vote ,but my worry is that am yet to receive my PVC despite every attempt,it’s very sad that millions of eligible voters will be disenfranched for no just cause ,INEC should please Sit Up.
All the presidential candidates are all birds of the same feathers the change we need is a young educated and God fearing person, Nigerians are tired of the same set of people moving from one party to another and we Nigerians didn’t take note of this, the change we need is new generation not the old cargos.
Hey,Nigeria belief in our sugary-mouth of our governed people…see in PDP tenure oil price ,food price , house rent price and expense price e.t.c are sky-rocket increase in price on daily basis…if we nigerian are still allow PDP to continue next tenure… Definitely those Nigerian that VOTE for PDP are the enemies of this country……see Jonathan came to Lagos recently threw dollar in the air, Jonathan gave about 150 NYSC copper automatic job but what about the both old & new employment graduate roaming in the streets without job., even Jonathan is using all mist to win the next coming election by sending his wife to use abussive-word to tackle his husband opponent through campaign….our innocent chibok-girls will turn to one-year in captivity by few weeks now… International currencies like dollar , euro , pound etc become king & naira become slave even they said electric-power sector is privatize but we still experience total BLACKOUT…our student are still going hard pathway before they get admission into their favor higher institution…most of our student travel extra-mile to study in abroad and even in laboring-country..study without….Hey take my word today if Jonathan or PDP continue next tenure… Nigeria will continue to face HARDSHIP & CORRUPT challenging……but let give another political-part to rule…but the power is in our hand to decide……Hey Pls Nigerian don’t vote because of tribalism , religion & money……
ITS ONLY BY THE GRACE AND WILL OF GOD OF ISRAEL THAT WILL GIVE YOU VICTORY. AS A PROPHETESS FROM JERUSALEM THIS IS WHAT THE WORD OF ABBAH YAHWEH TO YOU MR. PRESIDENT ” Goodluck Jonathan is LISTENING TO MY WORD AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR NIGERIA, MY LAND AND PEOPLE, RETRIEVE THE LARGEST ARK OF THE COVENANT IN THE WORLD you gave him, last Nov. 2013- THE SYMBOL OF MY PRESENCE IN HIS HAND! AS the Holy Spirit of Abbah Yahweh God
ISRAEL HAS SPOKEN, WE MUST OBEY. Ambassador David Oladipo Obasa will facilitate the
Retrieval of the Largest REPLICA OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT FROM NIGERIA TO JERUSALEM SANCTUARY,ISRAEL the soonest time. Prophetess Grace G. Gupana
You will surely win because God has said so and no power can take that from you. GEJ we know. Continue the good work
All politicians are thieves… Yes. But right now, It’s
a choice not about thieving and thiefry but about
the future of Nigerians. Those opposed to gej are
opposing not based on ideological differences but
for personal vandeta. GEJ has built an institution in
Inec to the extent that the opposition believes in
inec. That wasn’t the case under obj were we had
(s)election. Under gej, the major roads which
facilitate trades between north and south have been
fixed. ABUJA -LOKOJA road, Onisha to
portharcourt, benin – ore, lagos – Ibadan, apapa
oshodi… some of these, I have plied. I am not into
arm chair opposition… I have moved around. THE
railways, power station are being commissioned,
freedom of speech…. what is democracy when u
can’t speak ur mind? FOI BILL, 35% women in
government, transparency in federal allocation.
JOBS are being created though not enough by the
government the private sector is doing this. GEJ
respects women not a paedophile who marries a 12
year old girl. I though child bride started and ended
with yerima…. you ask… are our daughters safe
under the General? Considering he married a baby
mama. It’s an election gej must win. I am Happy
that the opposition are giving him a run for his
money. I will elucidate more on the 3arms of govt
UNDER gej, the judiciary has been free to an extent
on executive interference. I know you would
mention the justice salami case. I did not follow it,
hence can’t comment on it. The national assembly
has also been free under gej. We have never had it
so good in our democracy when principal leaders
are allowed to complete their tenure without
executive interference. Look in hind sight, obj had
more Senate presidents and speakers removed as a
result of executive interference in arms that are
supposed to be independent. Under gej, the military
has become professional in outlook and not
interfering in politics. Freedom of the press… no
one gags the press. We say no to decree 4. The
point folks will use against gej is corruption and
security. While I may have some answer to
security. When a man decides to set his house on
fire, what do u do about it? If u can answer this
question then I will go further
Mexy,
You have said it!, but permit me to add a few. If Justice Salami thinks his hands are TOTALLY clean then he should seek full redress in court. Some of us do know the story.
What beats me is how some people can open their mouth and say this govt has done nothing? I choose not to travel by air from Benin to Lagos any longer cos the road is good! And I am sure no one slept on the Asaba-Onitsha bridge during the Christmas season. My Sister in law who came from UK was even the one who told me she went by train from Lagos to Ilorin and she was impressed. My problem with people is when they want to deceive others they say the ruling party has done nothing irrespective of what we are seeing. There is more to see in months to come cos the foundation has been laid and ground work done. To get steady power supply doesn’t mean you flip switch at Egbin or Kainji and immediately there is light, No! The private sector is fully on board now and no one puts money into a business to loose it all. If Jimi Agbaje was magnanimous enough to admit that Fashola has done well but he could take it a notch higher , I don’t see the reason why The Angry Peoples Confraternity APC would not just acknowledge some good that this govt has done. All the say is security and corruption, meanwhile the most corrupt African The Jagaban Bogu is the hench man of their party. And the General who NEVER put forward ANY military strategy to defeat Boko Haram in the past couple of years now says he will handle security inNigeria. Thank God we are now over with that. Transformation we have seen and the transformation continues. It has not been perfect as our president has rightly and modestly put it , but we are transforming steadily and progressively and if not truncated like on 31 Dec 1983, we will get there In sha Allah!
Mexy, Maigaskiya et al, I want to state categorically dat u re Nigeria and Nigerian’s enemies. Let us tell d truth, no one has personal problem wit GEJ. Frm wat we re seeing in dis election the Hand of God is at work. Think properly, if their is any one who owes God d most gratitude in character, words &deeds, than GeJ. Wat has God, Nigerians & Balyesians not done for GEJ. Frm LG Chairman to Commissioner to Dputy Gov to Governor to Vice President to acting President and finally to President without any sweat. Remember in 2011, Nigerian all stood by him – Muslim, Christian, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, even d Tinubu u re castigating today stood by him. What was d result – January 2012, GEJ 1st paid us wit fuel increment & d nation was thrown into turmoil. Gone were d days wen Nigerians waited anxiously to New Yr, Independence,Sallah & Xmas days Broadcasts. Nigerians are sure to hear good News. But today all those days are marked wit fuel & price increase. We ve no Electricy, no water, dollars has crumbled us. D FG announced d reduction of fuel price to N 87 just last month & today petrol is being sold all over d country btw N100 & N125 & no one is saying nothing. Dis govt is always ready to pass blame. Is dat a responsible govt. wat else did GEJ want us to do for him. We ve tried as a pple For GEJ. Nigeria & Nigeria ve never has it so bad. D bloodshed & death witnessed during dis administration is unprecedented in d world. This is not d Nigeria of our dream, there is so much anguish in d land. Please go round & c d frustration frm our pple. GEJ HAS FAILED US. If he has done well, he doesn’t need to spend dis much or push dis hard. Nigerians re nt INGRATES & at d same time we re nt STUPID. It’s only d ethnic & religious mongers who did not wish us well dat will want to use ethnicity & religion to divide us. We are Brothers & Sisters. GEJ has tried his best, Nigeria is nt meant for one person or tribe or party. Anybody beating d drum of war will b consumed by it by d grace of God. Enough is enough! PDP has done it for 16 years & GeJ has bin there for eight years including being a vice president. Wat has changed in our dear country. Don’t let us be selfish or overwhelmed wit sentiments. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE! Let us test another party – APC. If in 2019, there is d need to change to Labour, Accord or PDP again, we will nt hesitate. We are 170million pple, one person or party cannot hold us to ransom. We need a better NIGERIA & OUR VOTE IS OUR POWER. APC – CHANGE
You speak reasonably. God bless u