The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said that the Federal Government will not be intimidated by Boko Haram.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the Abuja office of New Telegraph in order to commiserate with publication over the death of its Managing Editor, Suleiman Bisalla, Okupe said the Federal Government will not rest until this menace is checked.
“This country is not going under because of insurgency. We are too big to be disturbed by a handful of miscreants. In the fullness of time, all those who have a hand in this will pay for it. It is about time we go a step further. Boko Haram is about the battle for the soul of this country; what can be the sense behind killings if not struggle for power? God will help this country to overcome the menace. I want to assure Nigerians that Boko Haram may bomb us and destroy our property, but they cannot win the war. We will prevail, we Nigerians will prevail.
“The activities of Boko Haram are generally incomprehensible, we do not understand what they stand for fully, what they want, who they really are; all we see is wanton violence against our people. No delineation of class, religion or ethnicity.
“By coming to Abuja is to intimidate government, it is not working, it is not going to work.
“At first, we thought it was Muslims fighting Christians, then we thought some Christians have seized the franchise and are also fighting Muslims. Now, we see that Boko Haram is fighting every body. It is fighting the soul of Nigeria,.
“The incessant nature of these bombings worries government, it is perplexing. But government is not resting on its oars and their activities will not dampen in any way the spirit and the commitment of government to protect lives and property of the citizens.”
“It is true, government was unprepared for it (insurgency), our security agencies were unprepared for it but we are now ready for it. We will stop it. Let them go into any hole, hide anywhere, we have enough resources, men and material, committed people to grind insurgency to the ground.
“What is painful is the attack on Nigerians just toiling for daily living. 95 per cent of them are not connected to politics but they are snatched away by the mindless act of a few.”
“We are Nigerians before anything and this is aimed at all Nigerians. I am close to the security agencies. Majority of them go through sleepless night. Which technology can show the heart of a man? If a few people gather together and prepare a bomb and put in a bag, how would you stop them?”
“Bisalla’s death and the many others is quite painful. His death will be most painful to you because, being a new organisation, this is when you need all hands on deck especially a reputable, knowledgeable, very resourceful journalist like Bisalla, who has had well over two decades in the profession.
“I want to, on behalf of Mr. President, myself and my office express our very heart felt condolences to your media organisation, your management and staff. Through you, I also condole with the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the family that he has left behind”.
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