TheCable

A month after the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted, there were reports in the media that President Goodluck Jonathan would visit the town, which was drawing global attention to Nigeria.

But Reuben Abati, presidential spokesman, dismissed the news, saying the president had no intention of going there at the time. The president’s refusal to visit the town earned him public criticism, particularly on social media. Some even said he was advised to cancel his trip to avoid any attack from the sect.

NO SHOW

However, an official of the presidency who spoke to TheCable, referred to the idea of Jonathan’s visit to Chibok as a figment of the imagination of those behind the news.

“If the president is going to Chibok, it will not be advertised in the media,” he said.

“He would have left by the time you hear. It would be foolhardy to expect the president to tell the world he was on his way to Chibok.

“That will just give Boko Haram a great opportunity to organise an embarrassment of international proportions for the president, just to prove a point. You don’t hear that President Obama is going to see American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq until he has arrived and departed.”

Some of the abducted girls

After the abduction of the schoolgirls, Boko Haram renewed its offensive and gained momentum. Known for organising cowardly attacks, the sect became so daring that it seized territories, overpowered security forces and executed deadlier attacks.

Federal government delegations visited some communities in the insurgent-prone northeast but the commander-in-chief was nowhere to be found and trust the opposition party, they did not waste time in lashing out at the president.

Apparently not convinced that the president was doing his best on the insurgency, the All Progressives Congress (APC), continued to insist that Jonathan ought to visit that part of the country.

JONATHAN GOES TO BORNO

Accusations and counter-accusations over the issue continued until January 15, 2015 when the jet of Jonathan touched down at the Maiduguri international airport hours after he performed a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the nation’s fallen heroes, in Abuja.

Jonathan at the bedside of some injured soldiers at NA 7 Division Medical Services Centre and Hospital, Maiduguri

During that trip, the president visited the camps of some internally displaced persons, went to the hospital where injured soldiers were receiving treatment, and also met with some traditional rulers.

Then the tune changed again. Jonathan’s visit is coming too late; where has he been all along? He went there to canvass votes.

“We have always said the president and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces should never be afraid to visit anywhere in the country,” said Lai Mohammed, APC’s national publicity secretary.

“Now that the president has woken up from his slumber, he should also address the issue of the low morale of the troops and their lack of the necessary fighting equipment, if they are to effectively battle the terrorists who have killed and maimed thousands of innocent citizens.”

Lai Mohammed sees Jonathan’s visit as a campaign strategy

PDP CAMPAIGN IN MAIDUGURI

However, on January 24, Jonathan landed in Maiduguri again but this time around, everyone was aware of the reason. The presidential election then scheduled for February 14 was less than a month away and it was the turn of Borno to host the PDP presidential campaign train.

After visiting the Shehu of Borno, the president and other PDP leaders headed to Ramat Square, to appeal for votes.

“Since when I was in form 3 in the secondary school, I have been reading about the history of the great Borno people who were known for commerce and horsemanship,” Jonathan said.

“Borno state, being the largest state in the country by land mass and people with about 4.1 million human population, has a vast land for agriculture, which by the time we are voted to office for the next four years would be harnessed to improve the well-being of the residents.

The president at Ramat Square, Maiduguri during PDP’s presidential campaign in January

“We have a commitment to end terrorism in Nigeria. We must defeat and bring Boko Haram to an end. Borno people deserve a return of peace; we shall ensure that all our captured territories are reclaimed and all the kidnapped persons, including our daughters the Chibok girls are rescued safe and alive.

“The federal government has special plans to help the people of northeast Nigeria through the provision of potable water, and improved support for our local farmer with soft loans to enhance their businesses. And immediately after we recover our captured territories, we will ensure that we give special support for these communities to enable them bounce back.”

Again, the president returned to Adamawa and Borno on February 26, making it his third trip to Borno and second to Adamawa within two months.

According to Abati, the trip was meant to boost the morale of the troops and the soldiers were seen cheering the president.

Dressed in full military regalia, Jonathan mixed freely with some soldiers, commending them for their patriotic service. He even exchanged banters with some of them, promising to reward them specially.

No one needs an angel to tell him that the morale of the soldiers was very high. Where is the officer who would not be happy to host his superior, much less the nation’s first citizen?

The president and Kashim Shettima during his 2013 visit to Borno

 JONATHAN VISITED BORNO IN 2013

But some still believe that the president’s move was targeted at re-leection.

Majority of the respondents to TheCable’s Twitter findings on the visit said that the president was only trying to warm his way to the heart of the electorate.

But before one reaches that conclusion, Jonathan made a surprise visit to Borno two years earlier. The visit was similar to that of Thursday. So if one believes that his most recent trip was a campaign strategy, what about that of 2013?