NEWS FLAKES: Boko Haram surrender more important than Shekau’s death -FG

Labaran Maku (minister of information)

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was more interested in members of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, laying down their arms than in the death of its leader , Abubakar Shekau.
Maku addressed state house correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Wednesday.
President Goodluck Jonathan is currently the head of Nigerian delegation attending the UN General Assembly.
He was expected to present Nigeria’s position to the Assembly on Wednesday and return to the country on Thursday.
When asked to comment on the reported killing of Shekau by the Nigerian military, Maku said the Nigerian government was not interested in celebrating the death of the terrorist.
“Nigerian government would be happier if the Boko Haram leader and his group laid down their weapons and embraced peace,” he said.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government towards protecting human rights while prosecuting the war against insurgency.
He said, “Federal government has a responsibility to respect human rights unlike members of the Boko Haram sect who have thrown away all sympathy for human lives and are prepared to kill people just for killing sake.
“For us it is immaterial if the leader of the terrorist group is killed or not. We want them to drop their weapons and embrace peace. We want them to drop their weapons, stop killing their parents and innocent people and accept peace.”
Maku appealed to all Nigerians to support government’s efforts to restore peace to every part of the country.
He added that “this is not a conventional war, but we want all Nigerians to support government in bringing it to an end as soon as possible”.
“This is a war in which the enemy is living amongst us. They have no specific enemy but all Nigerians have become their enemies, and it does not matter to them whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, with them, no life is safe,” he said.
He noted that despite the current security challenges, the country was making unprecedented progress under the present administration which Nigerians should be proud of.
He disclosed that despite the current security challenges, no fewer than 62 roads had been delivered by the President Jonathan’s administration in the last four years.
“From the 4,500 Km of road network to 25,000 kilometers in the last four years, including the dualisation of Kano /Katsina road, as well as completion of about 60 percent of the Kano/ Maiduguri express road,” he said.
Maku said the completed portion of the Lagos-Benin Expressway would be inaugurated on this Saturday.
He said, “A lot of things are happening in the economy and we believe that this is an era that Nigerians should be proud.
“Yes, we have our drawbacks but the truth of the matter is that the reforms that the president has brought on board have given Nigeria a new face; today, the world is looking at this country differently.
“Even our elections are better, if you look at the recent elections in Osun and Ekiti states, the whole world knew that they were free and fair.
“Don’t mind the fact that before the election politicians were accusing each other of rigging, we keep running down the image of the country, but once people win there is no complain anymore.
“There is only complain when they lose, but the reality of it is that elections are getting better under this president.
“The reforms are on and as we move forward future generations of Nigerians will not see the problems we are seeing today.”

culled from 247nigerianewsupdate.com