MODERATOR: Council
members, distinguished guests, welcome to today's meeting of the Council
of (sic) Foreign Relations.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Before we begin our conversation with His Excellency
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,
the acting president
of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, there are -- Your Excellency, with
your indulgence -- a few housekeeping and protocol issues that we must
address.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">First, please completely turn off -- not just put on
vibrate -- all cell phones, Blackberry's, and any other wireless devices
that you might have. The purpose of this, of course, is that we want to
avoid interference with the sound system that we have.
Secondly, I'd like to
remind everyone that today's meeting is on the record. The media is
present, and you may be quoted on anything that you say here today.
Thirdly, I'd like to
recognize and extend a special welcome to members of the acting
president's delegation, including the Honorable Foreign Minister Mr.
Odein Ajumogobia. (Applause.) The honorable minister of Petroleum -- who
I understand is not here, but she is also a part of that delegation.
But the honorable Minister of Finance Mr. Olusegun Aganga, I believe, is
here. Sir, you are most welcome. (Applause.) Also, a special welcome to
their excellencies the executive governors of Rivers State, Imo State,
Edo State and Zamfara State -- Your Excellencies. (Applause.) And of
course, our new ambassador, Ambassador Adefuye, is here. Ambassador.
(Applause.) And I understand as well that the former ambassador, and my
dear friend, Wakili Hassan Adamu, is here. (Applause.) And the U.N.
Ambassador Joy Ogwu is here, I believe. (Applause.) It's great to see
you again.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And to all of the other senior officials who are a
part of the acting president's delegation, a warm welcome to all of you.
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">
Before I introduce his
excellency the acting president, you should know that we're going to
deviate just a bit from our standard interview format. The acting
president would like to make a statement, and he has said that that
statement will be no more certainly than 10 minutes, but probably under
that. And we certainly are very happy to accommodate that.
But to accommodate the
change, I'll probably forfeit a few of my own questions, because we do
want to take as many questions as we can from the audience. So with that
-- but before I proceed, I see our ambassador, Robin Sanders, is here.
(Applause.) We'd like to welcome her and all of the other dignitaries in
the audience.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the acting president of
Nigeria. He is an indigen of Bayelsa State in Nigeria's Niger Delta.
He's a biologist by training, and holds a Ph.D. in zoology -- and a
master's degree in something I didn't even know existed, hydrobiology
and fisheries biology.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">He was the deputy governor from 1999 to 2005, and
later became governor of Bayelsa State, from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, Dr.
Jonathan was nominated by the PDP, Nigeria's ruling party, as the
running mate to PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
The Yar'Adua/Jonathan team prevailed in that election and, on May 29,
2007, Dr. Jonathan was inaugurated as Nigeria's vice president -- the
first time in the 50-year history of Nigeria that a citizen from the
South-South Geopolitical Zone has held that high office.
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">
On January 13th, 2010, a
federal high court conferred on Dr. Jonathan the power to carry out
state affairs while President Yar'Adua received medical treatment in
Saudi Arabia. On February 9th, 2010, Dr. Jonathan assumed office as
acting president, following a resolution to that effect by the Nigerian
Senate.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Now, Dr. Jonathan -- and I base this on my own
personal knowledge of him -- is a man of uncommon loyalty, impeccable
integrity and immense commitment to Nigeria and to the welfare of the
Nigerian people. Ours is the first public event of his four-day official
visit to Washington.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And Your Excellency, on behalf of the Council on
Foreign Relations and its membership, we are delighted to have you here
today.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the acting
president of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Jonathan. (Applause.)
ACTING PRESIDENT
GOODLUCK JONATHAN: Thank you. Thank you. Please be seated.
Coordinator,
distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I would thank you for the special
privilege given to me to make a statement before responding to
questions. I made that request because probably I may be one of the few,
or if not the first, to address you as an acting president. (Laughter.)
Of course, the
circumstances that led to me being addressed as acting president are
very well known to most of you. Those circumstances were quite
disturbing to us as a nation. But definitely, the concern of quite a
number of key players globally, especially from America and the other
parts of the world, helped to stabilize us as a nation.
And I feel in that
sense I'm addressing the Council on Foreign Relations, which is a very
powerful body -- let me use it as an opportunity to appreciate all what
you have done individually and collectively. Today, as a nation, we are
stable and we are moving forward. I feel like -- (applause) -- I have to
make this opening statement before I respond to the issues that you
will raise.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">I wish to commend the esteemed members of the Council
on Foreign Relations for its continued interest in Nigerian Affairs. We
are always ready to work with the council on areas of mutual interest,
especially those that foster greater understanding, facilitate growth
and promote the mutual development of our two nations.
In this regard, the
signing of the Binational Commission last week opens up a new vista of
opportunity for Nigeria-U.S. relations. The BNC marks a new threshold
for greater collaboration between the private sectors of our two
countries, which we must support to drive our economies.
Distinguished ladies
and gentlemen, there is no doubt in my mind that we are presented with
an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future direction of
Nigeria.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">When I was a young man growing up in the Niger Delta,
as expressed, I had great dreams for the future. I was fascinated by
science and discovery, and the transformational powers of technology. So
I pursued a course of study in science, and for 10 years I remained in
the field of science as a teacher nurturing the growth of young
scientists in Nigeria. When I ventured out of the classroom in 1993, it
was again another opportunity to apply my background in science to
protect the delicate ecosystem of the Niger Delta.
In both the classroom
and my environmental-protection work, I came face to face with the
challenges of sustainable development in Nigeria. The challenges of
insufficient funding of critical sectors, mis-prioritization and low
infrastructural base were always an obstacle to surmount. But as an
individual, I continued to make progress and never conceded to these
difficulties although, of course, I was later diverted to politics in
1999.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Throughout my political career, I have applied the
lessons of scientific inquiry and technological innovation to meet the
challenges that my constituents face.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Today, I am confronted with the greatest test of my
political career. While we continue to pray for the recovery of our
president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, it is my responsibility to work
with all Nigerians to improve the pace of development and to do so
facing the right direction.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
We are choosing for ourselves what I will call
foundational responsibilities which, if well shouldered, will form a
solid base for the development of Nigeria from this point onward.
In this responsibility
of consolidating and deepening our democracy, we are committed to
ensuring that the remaining period of the administration is not a
transitional period but one which we hope will one day be viewed as a
watershed, a transformational time in our young democracy.
For us in Nigeria, this
is our time. Either we continue with more of the same or we change the
game. There's no doubt that we are being faced by some challenges in our
country. But we have stabilized the politics. And we are determined to
consolidate on the gains so recorded.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And for now our domestic focus must be on electoral
reform, delivering peace dividends to the Niger Delta and the rest of
the country, and standing strong on our resolve against corruption.
Internationally we are
determined to restore Nigeria's image and traditional role as the key
member of the international community. In an increasingly uncertain
world, Nigeria is a key partner in our collective efforts to maintain
peace and security in Africa and beyond.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Nigeria will reiterate its commitment to fight
terrorism and rededicate our efforts to promote development, democracy
and a shared value for human progress.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for
the opportunity to share our thoughts and hopes with you on the present
and future. Thank you very sincerely. (Applause.)
MODERATOR: Mr. Acting
President, we thank you very much for those very inspiring words. And
you can see we have a full house today. There's a lot of interest and
concern about Nigeria. We'll begin now maybe three or four core
questions here. And then we will ask the audience to also participate.
Mr. Acting President,
it was reported in the press that you met with President Obama yesterday
afternoon. And could you give us your impressions of that meeting? And
very generally what was discussed? Not the specifics. (Laughter.)
JONATHAN: Actually the
meeting was supposed to be a private meeting. But the meeting was quite
fruitful. The American ambassador to Nigeria and our ambassador here,
other ministers and, of course, the secretary of State.
But anyways, we looked
at contemporary issues in Nigeria -- (inaudible) -- official
relationship between America and Nigeria. The meeting was quite warm and
friendly.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">MODERATOR: Mr. Acting President, you have at most 12
months remaining in your current office. What do you hope to achieve?
And what are your core priorities?font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
JONATHAN: Definitely when you have a very short
period, you cannot really even as a politician promise people what you
cannot deliver. But one thing I promised Nigerians, and the rest of
society that has interest in Nigeria, is that we must set up clear
goals.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">There are certain things that we can achieve even for
the next six months; certain things that are quite disturbing to the
country, certainly the issues of conducting elections that are always
questionable.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">These are human issues. We don't need -- (inaudible)
-- to solve it. So I have promised Nigerians and the rest of the world
that 2011 elections in Nigeria would be credible. (Applause.)
I said so, because
either I consider myself as a victim of elections that have been
questioned. I worked very hard as the Governor of Bayelsa state then for
us to have won the presidential election in 2007.
But the impression was
that all things are not done properly. And it gave me worries. And I
promised that the elections I was to provide for 2011 would be credible.
We are looking at
reforming our electoral processes. But I mentioned to people that even
without reforming the electoral laws we have, the present laws can
enable you to conduct elections that will be more than 70 percent
acceptable.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And we have experimented that. We read this issue to
President Obama yesterday. We conducted state-concerned elections in
Nigeria. And one of -- (inaudible) -- the governor is here, in Edo
state.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">We have also conducted a governorship election in one
of our states, Anambra state. And only on Saturday, two days ago, we
conducted local council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
In Nigeria, local
elections in the states are conducted by the state electoral bodies. But
in the Federal Capital Territory -- (inaudible) -- national body that
conducts the elections. 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So that can give you -- (inaudible) -- for the
state-concerned election conducted by this electoral body in Edo state,
the governorship election conducted in Anambra state and the local
council election conducted in Abuja, I show you clearly that we can
conduct elections that will be acceptable. 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
It gives me hope. And I'm quite sure, and I can
promise Nigerians and indeed the American audience, that 2011 elections
in Nigeria will be credible. You don't need more than one here to
achieve that. If I don't -- (inaudible) -- give me 10 years, I cannot
achieve it. (Applause.) 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">The issues of corruption that also bother us is also
human factor. In every society, it's difficult to say you can eradicate
corruption. But we've set up the machinery to make sure that we continue
to reduce it. The war against it will be sustained and will continue.
(Inaudible.)'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">The issues of security, let me maybe talk about it.
Niger Delta, the challenge we have in the Niger Delta, the amnesty
program, as some call it, we have restructured the management. And we're
trying to -- (inaudible) -- start their training this month.
These are issues that
you cannot really say you are going to conclude it in a year, because
the issue of young men who have taken arms to fight -- (inaudible) --
some of them the capacity is quite low.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So it takes a lot of time to train them, even for them
to be in position to make a living through the same means. So it's not
something you can say you can even complete in a four-year
administration. But I can assure you that we've set up a solid base. And
I have a clear focus on the program, with timelines, that you'll see
that we are progressing.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
We also have this challenge where we have --
(inaudible) -- crisis in some parts of the country. Maybe if you take
some parts of the north where, among the Muslim faithful, there are some
sects that sometimes rise against the rest, because it's assumed that
the others are not doing what is right.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And sometimes this is wrongly interpreted in the rest
of the world as specifically a religious crisis in Nigeria, as if the
Christians and the Muslims were at war. The Christians and Muslims are
never at war in Nigeria. They will never be at war based on our own
circumstances.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">But we have this sectarian violence. These are things,
security challenges, that would strengthen our security forces or be
able to bring it down drastically.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So there are some key areas where -- (inaudible) -- 60
percent or more. But there are the areas of basic infrastructure that
you need a gestational period, the planning period that is a period of
education. Those areas will make sure that our road map is very clear.
If you take one of the
greatest areas where we have challenges is the issue of power.
Ordinarily by now, Nigerians needn't be talking about power, because
most of you who have been to Nigeria, you see the volume of gas we burn
every day from the oil industry activities. If we even have to convert
50 percent of the gas we burn to power, I don't think we'll be talking
about power. But (decisions ?) are not planned for a very long period of
time.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So -- and the power infrastructure is one that -- it
looks at the law of nature -- (this is a little ?) of all or nothing.
You must complete all the processes for the bulb to light. If one
micrometer is not completed, the bulb will never glow.
So those are areas
where we will have the definite road map. If you look at even the -- and
it's one of the greater challenges we have, is the power sector.
And as -- when I
appointed the ministers, up to this time, we have not appointed a
minister for power, because we are -- we've set up a committee, we are
really reexamining it, we want to change the focus. I am presently
coordinating a committee that -- to handle the power sector. When we
settle this deal very clearly, then we can bring in a minister to drive
the process. But we are still talking at the committee level.
So in a summary, there
are certain issues, there are certain challenges we have that within the
next 12 months will surely succeed up to 50 percent, 70 percent. So
it's really -- it has to do with the human factor. But basic
infrastructural areas -- I cannot promise that we'll achieve so much,
because the time is short. But you will see a clear road map. Even if it
is (road ?) infrastructure, even if it is the aviation sector, the
transport sector, you will see a clear road map, and you will appreciate
that we are moving forward. If we are not moving, you will know. If we
are moving, we'll -- you will know.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
MODERATOR: Wonderful. (Applause.)
Mr. Acting President,
it was very reassuring, and I think that the areas that you talked about
are certainly the key challenges facing Nigeria at this point.
But -- most questions
concerning your administration have focused on internal domestic issues,
but what about foreign policy? What are your foreign policy goals? And
how much of your foreign policy agenda do you hope to achieve over the
next 12 months? And are you going to have the time, the political will
to actually devote your personal attention to foreign policy issues?
JONATHAN: Thank you.
Foreign policy is one area that results is always even difficult to
benchmark, even for a sophisticated country like the U.S.
And before this time,
you know that Nigerian foreign policy centered on Africa, as recently --
in those days when most African countries were still under colonial
rule, when apartheid held sway in South Africa, and Nigeria was
committed to ensuring that African countries -- most of African
countries are liberated from colonial rule; they govern themselves and
so on. But now -- in fact, this year -- about 16, 18 African countries
are celebrating 50 years of independence, including Nigeria. We are
celebrating in October. I hope most of you will come to Nigeria at that
time. (Soft laughter.)'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So really, that is -- the issue of fighting a foreign
government running African countries is no longer the issue.
But we still have
challenges in Africa. There are quite a number of African countries that
we have not a democratic government or pseudo-democratic (setting ?),
and we believe that as a continent, all African countries must elect --
must have a true democratic society and to elect their leaders. And that
is main focus of Nigeria now -- what, with the ECOWAS -- of course
Nigeria is the current chair of ECOWAS and a leader in the West African
sub-region, working with the ECOWAS and working with African Union to
make sure that all African countries where we have crisis -- whether in
Cote d'Ivoire, whether in Guinea, whether in Darfur -- we will come up
with a very stable system of government. And that's why the issues of
(Niger ?) that just happened were quite disturbing to us, and our
position has been very, very clear.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So our main focus now is to see that at least within
the continent of Africa we have democratic (setting ?) and true
democracies, not just false democracy where somebody becomes the
president for 10 years, 15 years and maybe hand over to his son, his own
in-law. That is a (very false setting ?. We want a system where people
will elect their leaders. It's not a monarchy where a king will hand
over to his first son and so on.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So those countries where we still practice what we
claim to be a democratic (setting ?) but rather, if you look at it, it's
more like a monarchy -- we feel that those institutions must be
corrected. So that is (the sense there ?.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But the next most important priority is that Nigeria
as a nation believes in global peace, and that is -- internationally,
that is our strongest focus -- but the people in the world must live in
peace. We don't believe that a group of people or one individual, a
group of individuals should be a terror to the rest of the human
society. And of course I believe that's also one of the key areas of
interest to America. And so our interests kind of -- there's a
convergence of interests at that level.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So these are the key areas -- drive our own foreign
interest.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">It's difficult for you to benchmark. I can maybe talk
about elections in Nigeria, and if I conduct election today -- and of
course there will be international observers, so if (all of you ?) from
the group give hundred percent to my election, I can say yes, I've
achieved a hundred percent. If they give 50 percent, I can say, well,
I've achieved 50 percent. But for foreign (elections ?), it's difficult
to benchmark. But that is our focus as a nation.
MODERATOR: Wonderful.
Very good. Thank you. (Applause.)font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Mr. Acting President, public safety and security are
huge challenges facing Nigeria. Public safety and security affect all
aspects of your national life, from human rights protections to the
attractiveness of your investment climate. 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
The Nigerian police have been accused of gross human
rights violations, including unlawful killing of criminal suspects. What
are you going to do about this situation, and what new policies and
programs are you going to put in place, particularly to professionalize
the Nigerian police?'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">JONATHAN: Thank you. Definitely it's an area we all
know, as Nigerians, that we have challenges -- the area of security. And
that's one of the areas that worry us, because the free movement of
small arms and light weapons into African countries is worrisome. And
it's one area that we always plead for the developed society that
manufactured these weapons to see how they could help us control the
movements, because it's a big challenge in Africa. Every African country
you go -- or a number of them, you have this kind of ragtag army that
carry all kinds of small arms and light weapons, and becomes a security
threat to the rest of society. And we ask: Who manufactured these
weapons? Why are they shifting to Africa?10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And we always feel that is -- when we meet a country
like the United States -- (inaudible) -- this is one area you -- the
American authorities must help Africa.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And that is why, even when we talk about the proposed
U.N. treaty on small arms and light weapons, we believe that America
must play a key role to make sure that we (can't let ?) that -- because
if we don't control it, most African countries would continue to be
under pressure.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">(If ?) what we are accusing the Nigerian police (is
started ?) -- it would be an investigation. There was some kind of --
since the -- in fact the (RZZRA ?) also (shoot particulars ?) in one of
our northern states, and the government is investigating. Well, from the
preliminary information we have, if you see how some of these criminals
brutalize the police, you need to be a superhuman being not to begin to
contemplate vengeance. 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So we see that there are some (pockets ?) where the
police went a little too far in an attempt or maybe, after senior
colleagues (maybe just murdered ?) -- an overreaction and (go beyond ?)
their status as law enforcement agencies, which we're investigating.
But basically what the
-- the problem we have in the police now, which we have set up
(nationally ?) to create a special fund -- is that they are not
well-equipped scientifically to confront the level of criminality that
the free movement of small arms and light weapons have created in
Nigeria and indeed most of African countries. So it looks like some of
the criminals are a little more sophisticated than them. They carry
stronger weapons than them. And in that case, it becomes very (difficult
?) for them to protect themselves.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So we are setting up a fund that both public and
private sector will participate. In fact, for the whole of last year, we
and the governors were all debating, and the private sector. And we've
all agreed that we must equip the police very well; we must give them
enough equipment, including helicopter gunships, because of the level of
criminality in the country.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And if we set up that fund and they are well equipped,
both scientifically, using modern methods of detecting crime and
fighting crime, and the conventional method, well, they would contain
the excesses of the -- of the criminal.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But the areas of -- we have been accused of
human-rights violations. If you go into a deep investigation, you will
have even sympathies for some others who have said that -- I'm trying --
I'm not going -- (inaudible) -- for them, but as a government we're
investigating. And anybody that is found guilty, of course, we'll not
allow you to continue to be in the police. But this area that --
(inaudible) -- I believe that the developed societies, including
America, can help African countries, if we can control the manufacture
and the free movement of small arms and light weapons into Africa.
It looks like presently
Africa is a dumping ground for the weapons used in the developed
societies. And, of course, if you manufacture the weapons or they were
used by the forces in the former Soviet Union and so on, and they have
no need again for these weapons, and of course they dump them into
Africa. But the criminals use it to terrorize the rest of innocents and
distant African citizens.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
MODERATOR: Mr. Acting President, thank you very much
for that response. (Applause.)font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
I believe that, in order to have the half an hour that
we wish to have for audience participation, we'll stop at this point. I
just wanted to make one observation. On the question of police training
and cooperation and collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S., we had a
very robust program when I was in Nigeria.
We did not have willing
partners. You have to have willing partners on the other side in order
to have effective cooperative programs. This is an area where I think
the U.S. would be willing to really support Nigeria. But, Mr. Acting
President, we have to have that willingness on the Nigerian side, things
like community policing and other things, so that these programs can be
effective. But it's a very good area, I think, for U.S. attention.
We're now going to ask
the audience to join in this discussion. And I would like to ask
everyone, raise your hand, please wait for the microphone to reach you,
speak directly into the microphone, please stand, please state your name
and your affiliation, and please ask questions and not statements or
comments, so that we can have a full participation in this very unique
session that we're having this morning.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So let's start. Here's a gentleman right there; he's
already got his bid in. 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">QUESTIONER: Gabriel Pellathy with Westinghouse
Electric Company. Thank you, Mr. President, for being here. You had
referenced the power sector. Can you get a little bit more specific in
terms of what your sense is, timetables? Will nuclear be part of that
power source, things of that nature? If you could add a little more in
terms of specifics. Thank you.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
JONATHAN: Thank you. I may not be too specific in
terms of a timeline, but presently, Nigeria generates power through two
main sources: hydro turbines, using hydro systems through the dams; then
we have some turbines using gas to fire the turbines -- the ones that
use water, the hydro, and the ones that use gas to turn the turbines.
These are the two main
sources of power in Nigeria, and it's not adequate. Though another
problem we had was the attempts of the gas factor. We are just exploring
new gas reserves and new gas wells. The gas wells, the results that
were -- been exploited. We had the arrangement, of course, with the
multilateral organization, and we are selling more of the gas. And so
there is not enough for domestic use, except the ones that --
(inaudible) -- and very difficult to build that. We have to get that to
use.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">But we are going into two new areas. We also want to
use the Tamal (ph) turbines that were fired with coal, because we have
quite some coal reserves. We are giving out the coal (blocks ?) now so
the people can generate power. But that has not come on board.
We have plans, but
that's a long-term plan also, to generate power using nuclear. But
nuclear power is not the one you can just wake up and generate, because
you must follow the International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. And
if you deviate from their guidelines, the rest of the world will begin
to suspect you and think you want to use nuclear power for something
else.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Presently, Nigeria uses nuclear power for the
exploration of the oil industry. That's an area we use nuclear
technology, for the oil industry. But we also want to use the nuclear
technology for power generation. But we must follow the guidelines and
position of the International Atomic Energy Agency. And we are
following; they are giving us the roadmap, and it will take us another
-- from their own program, this is something that will come up between
the next eight to 10 years. So it's not immediate, and we're not going
to deviate from that. We didn't want to be suspected by the rest of
society as if we want to use the nuclear power for something inimical to
global peace.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">QUESTIONER: Thank you.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
MODERATOR: Please. font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
QUESTIONER: Thank you. Maria McFarland from Human
Rights Watch. Mr. Acting President, I'm going to follow up a little bit
on the ambassador's question about police violence. Earlier this year,
we were happy to hear you pledge to end the culture of impunity in
Nigeria, which is a factor not only fueling police abuses and hundreds
of extrajudicial executions in recent years, but also this recurring
violence in places like the state of Jos.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Can you please tell us, how are you going to break
that culture of impunity? In the past there have been arrests, people
have been charged, but those arrests have not resulted in prosecutions
and convictions. What tangible results, what concrete steps, will you
take to break that? Thank you.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
JONATHAN: Thank you. I've said it all, but you have
also almost answered the question, because the issue of impunity is when
somebody commits an offense and when no punishment's meted out. So that
basically will continue to do the same thing.
If you take the case of
Jos that you just mentioned, the crisis in Jos, somehow it is certain
in plateau state in Jos is somehow unique, because Jos is on a very high
level -- I'll just call it a plateau, in Nigeria, and the climate there
is very, very conducive -- in fact, the first set of Europeans that
came into Nigeria, most of them preferred staying in Jos than even
Lagos, that was the federal capital. font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Because Nigeria is a very warm, tropical country, but
the climate in Jos can drop off to minus 2 in some parts of the year. So
the climate is very, very conducive. So it is a cosmopolitan place. So
you have a number of settlers who came in. Some of them came in through
our history of what we describe as a jihad, when some of the leaders for
the Muslims moved from the north towards the south in terms of
expanding the religion. 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And within the period, there is that part of Nigeria. I
think the whole process stopped, and some of them settled to live
there. And so part -- some Nigerians even from the south, especially if
you go to a place like Jos, you arrive a number of (southeasterners ?).
They are very aggressive, these men and traders who have settled in Jos.
So you go -- you also see high population of the west, or the group --
(inaudible) -- Ibos. And of course the northern and the Hausi-Fulani
group that settled there.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So over the period, there is this feeling of the
indigenous population feeling that the settlers are trying to take a
better portion of the economic interest in the area. So there is always
this special conflict. And this is a conflict that is from the early
'60s, and it continues to come up from time to time. And when we get
into government -- (inaudible) -- 2008, the conflict came up again. And
because of -- just look at government elections. In Jos, the (most ?)
problem is because of this conflict between the settlers and the
natives. That has been (the most ?) problems. But they look for every
little immediate cause. 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">They look at our -- (inaudible) -- election as a --
(inaudible) -- that the chairman of the council supposed not to come
from that sector. It caused a major crisis in 2008, when a lot of people
were killed. And of course, this 2009, this crisis came up again.
What has happened in
2008? The central government then wanted to set up a kind of board of
inquiry to look into each, what is the causes and to commence
appropriate measures to be taken. But of course, the states resisted. In
a way, it was -- I mean, after the ambassador -- (inaudible) -- of the
states. So we allowed the states to do it. 10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But what -- instead of what we call administrative
boards of inquiry or judicial commissions of inquiry -- it takes a long
time (to/too ?) -- so when this thing happened happen again in 2009 --
from 2009, 2010, that time the president has been away, and I was then
the vice president -- I made it very clear that this time around we are
not going to set up any administrative or judicial commission. The
police will do their work. The police must investigate crime as
individual (actions ?). So if anybody that is directly or remotely
linked up with the crisis -- the ones they arrested and prosecuted -- if
you go through the courts and the courts announce that you are not
guilty and they charge you or acquit you, there you go. But if they --
if you have a case to (answer ?), you should be prosecuted --
(inaudible) -- passed through this commission. And that's the only way
you can.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And the problem is that people expect things to be
done so fast. But when you have a major crisis that involves so many
people, sometimes, within the investigation -- (inaudible) -- you are
prosecuting more than 500 people that are involved in the massive
killing. It happens all over the world. This is not something that the
police -- they don't have a magic wand to complete the investigation in a
week, because they are not investigating one person who has --
committed more than one person -- (inaudible) -- but you're
investigating over 500 people that are involved in massive criminal
activities.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So it takes time. And as you know, the position of the
laws in Nigeria and most other countries is that it is better for 10
people -- 10 guilty people to go free than for one innocent person to be
punished. And because of that premise of the law, for you to prosecute
anybody, you go extra lengths to make sure that you are not punishing an
innocent person. And it takes time. font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But my directive now is to make sure that that culture
of impunity is no longer a factor, is that the police should arrest
anybody who is directly or indirectly linked up. And whenever we get a
-- (inaudible) -- we can link a text message to your phone, that you
(search ?) a text message, that is to get any crisis about --
(inaudible) -- so they'll go to the courts and prove that you are not a
part of the conspiracy, not us to decide. And that the police are doing.
And I believe that if we follow that trend, it will -- (inaudible) --
law that you cannot commit a crime and get away from it.
And I told my --
(inaudible) -- that this investigation must continue. It is not
something we are going to do it in a month or two months. We will
continue until we make sure that anybody who is remotely or directly
involved in the -- (inaudible) -- crisis is prosecuted.
In terms of bringing
peace to the area, we are using other methods. So while the police are
looking at the criminal aspects of the crisis, we are conducting with
the religious leaders in the areas, we are conducting with the --
(inaudible) -- with us in the area almost every week. And we (used ?) to
meet with one group or the other to make sure that what has been
happening, this (serial ?) crisis that continues from the early '60s to
date, is brought to a reasonable level of control.
But basically what has
been happening in that part is because of the social conflict between
the so-called settlers that appears to dominate the economy of the area
and the indigenous population that failed at -- (inaudible) -- change in
economic activities. (Inaudible) -- this is the (remote cause ?) of the
conflict.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">But most cases, when does conflict happen? Because
some parts of this -- some of the settlers belong to the Muslim faith,
and most of the indigenous population are Christians. So sometimes where
this -- when this conflict, which has turned ethnic, comes, people
begin to (paint ?) the religious coloration as if the Christians and the
Muslims have conflict in the -- (inaudible). No, there's no conflict
between the Christians and Muslims. While that is the partition, it's
just because of the groups that are fighting kind of belong to two
different religions. So religion more or less looks like kind of the
wind that could actually spread a wildfire in one way or the other
because of the -- (inaudible) -- of some of the religious leaders that
-- (inaudible). But the conflict is not a religious conflict.
The government is now
prosecuting; people that are involved in the crisis are no longer taking
the option of setting up judicial commissions, administrative panels of
inquiry, because (that tried ?) to waste a lot of time and reduces the
effect of (trying ?) to protect some people who have committed crimes.
MODERATOR: Thank you
very much. (Scattered applause.)font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Dr. Mikell?font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
QUESTIONER: Thank you. Gwendolyn Mikell, Georgetown
University.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Mr. Acting President, I was heartened by your promise
to have credible elections in 2011. My question concerns the independent
Nigerian electoral commission. For those of us who were there last time
or people who were watching, the confidence in that commission and in
the way in which it relates to the electorate is going to be critical.
So I'm wondering what has been done, what you plan to do, what kinds of
things are going to be put in place so that north, south, east, west,
civil society, whatever, there is confidence that that commission is
moving along and the election actually will be able to be credible.
JONATHAN: Thank you.
The issue of perception is -- (inaudible). It's more psychological than
real. They who have the perception that the body cannot do what is
right, even if they do what is right, people find it very difficult to
believe. And that is (too real ?) over there. Now, you've got electoral
body, the INEC, because the feeling is that INEC cannot conduct credible
elections in Nigeria.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Basically, I am, in a way, a bit lucky now, because
most of the commissioners in INEC -- especially at -- (inaudible) --
because we have to -- (inaudible) -- commissioners in INEC --
(inaudible) -- and the chairman; then we have -- what they call the
resident electoral commissioners, that every state has one. We have to
have seven of them; that is to have six -- (inaudible) -- in Abuja that
handle the elections at the state level.10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
At the national level, most of the officers have
completed their tenure, or complete their tenure in a couple of months.
So we are going to review them individually. And the ones we feel that's
not good enough to be reappointed, we will not reappoint. And --
(inaudible). We'll make sure that we bring people the information, the
names of the people -- (inaudible) -- will be happy that they will
conduct clean elections. But that is psychological, because, like I
said, it has to do with perceptions. So we have that -- we're a bit
lucky in that respect.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">Before the 2011 elections, there will be a lot of
changes in INEC. And no matter -- (applause) -- who talked about the
chairman -- not just the chairman. The chairman himself, the tenure is
going to expire by (the end of ?) June. But not just him alone. Quite a
number of the commissioners in INEC, their tenure (by the end of ?)
June, most of them -- more than two-thirds of them -- their tenures are
going to expire. So we're going to cross-examine them and also listen to
the public opinion (of the society ?).10pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But even the (present ?) INEC and -- (inaudible) --
state, they can conduct elections. The perception is -- I have admitted
that the perception is quite (critical on the human side ?). It's
psychological, not real. At the same INEC-conducted election in those
states, the governor was adamant about when that election was to be
conducted. The governor was very apprehensive. Luckily, the civil
society -- (inaudible). (Laughs.)font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
MODERATOR (?): Fortunately.
JONATHAN: And --
(inaudible) -- called me, and he was worried whether INEC would
manipulate the elections in the states. And I said, look, I've given
clear directives, and anybody that -- (inaudible) -- from that, I will
fire the person. I've given clear directives to the police. And to
prevent -- (inaudible) -- elections. I've given clear directives to INEC
that we will not accommodate any wrongdoing. We will not (ask ?) the
government. We have changed (our thinking ?). We have changed --
(inaudible). And Nigeria was sure delayed in that regard. We cannot
begin to talk about -- (applause) -- we cannot begin to talk to other
leaders: And look, you must conduct clean election. You will not have a
(totalitarian ?) agenda, you must not run your country as a monarchy
when you yourself, you have issues that people will raise.
So for you, you have to
lead by example. People must lead, we must show clear example. And one
area that we must demonstrate to the rest of Africa is our standard of
elections. And I -- when I truly governed initially was not to show. But
at the end of the elections -- (inaudible) -- to Abuja to express
appreciation.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">But in the same -- INEC conducted elections. We
conducted election in a number of states. Here's where we have logistics
problem, has to do with the voters' registration. But in terms of the
pattern of the voting and so on, it was, at least to -- for the
observers of that election, it gave a clear -- they can score it 70
percent on that vote.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">We've just concluded a local council election in
Abuja. It was done on Saturday. I left that Saturday night. By the time I
get back home, I will get a clear picture, because they have given some
briefing, but not comprehensive enough, because I'm so busy here. But
basically, even if you look at that election, handled by the same INEC,
the elections are credible. But maybe some of you have gotten a little
more information than I have. But elections so far are credible. So all
I'm saying is that the issue of INEC not being in a position to conduct
elections, I'm convinced that INEC can -- even the present INEC -- can
conduct elections in Nigeria that will be free and fair.
What happened in our
previous elections is just one missing link. Because -- and it has
nothing to do with the laws. That's why I normally emphasize that. Even
if you don't change any of our laws, we can still conduct elections, if
INEC just count and refuse to compromise. The missing link is that our
election law says that at the end of voting, electoral results must be
announced at the polling unit. The polling unit is made up of -- most of
the polling unit is -- is to handle voters of not more than 500 voters.
There are very few polling units that will have a little more than 500.
But most polling units vary from about 150 to about 500 voters. That
is, by arrangement, a polling unit.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
But every person who is contesting election is
supposed to have an agent in every polling unit. If you are contesting
an election, in every polling unit from within that unit you will have
your own agent. You have also observers, both security observer and
others. And I will now say that at the end of the elections, the results
must be declared, at least of the unit. But it's always a problem
declaring results at the unit level, because of conflicts, sometimes the
pressure and so on.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">So in most cases, they take the results at the end of
the voting to the local vote headquarters, where they collect the
results. And during that process, people feel that there are
wrongdoings. People may change results. And that has been the problem in
Nigeria. And this time we said, look, if you cannot declare the results
at that polling unit, that will cancel that result. So all results must
be declared at the polling unit. And that is what our poll in Anambra
-- that's what our polling, they do. font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And if we mention that even with the present laws,
even with the present INEC, conducting elections, that globally can
score us quite high. And we have been insisting on that. So I have no
fear about elections. My conviction is that 2011 elections, you will be
happy with those. (Applause.)font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
MODERATOR: The gentleman in the back. Yes. Yes,
please.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">QUESTIONER: Mr. Acting President, my name is Ufo
Eric-Atuanya with Rimsom Associates. Just following up on the issue of
perception, so many times as a person of Nigerian descent operating in
diaspora, we are faced with the media. And a lot of times, the media
often reports -- majority of the times, all we hear about are negative
things coming out of Nigeria.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
And I'm made to understand that there are some
proactive things that the administration has done, and some that you may
even be involved in, especially in areas like the Niger Delta, and
perhaps capacity-building when it comes to trying to develop the small-
and medium-size enterprises. So I'm just curious to hear directly from
you, what are some of these proactive things that the Nigerian
government is actually doing? Because a lot of times all we hear about
are the negatives.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">JONATHAN: Thank you. Well, normally -- before I got
into government, I didn't know much about the media. But when I got into
government, the information that they always tell us is that negative
stories sell. (Laughter.) The positive stories don't sell. So if the
governor of Rivers State -- even if he's building the best hospital, it
is difficult for the media to tell the world that he's building the best
hospital, so many of these governors. But if anything is minor --
(capitalize on ?).'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">As you mean and observed, the Rivers State government
is arrested by maybe ESPC (sp), or ICPC (sp), or the police, so when --
even if it's a fraud of only $500, it will be in all the papers. But
that is not only in Nigeria, but that is the issue of the media, so --
because, of course, negative stories will always sell. While here in
America as acting president of Nigeria, if I do anything that is
slightly (a decision ?), I think all the media in the world will flatten
me. But no matter the difficult things we do, maybe nobody (really want
to ?).'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">But that is basically -- but one thing government will
do and intend to do. You know, I've just had talks at presidential
advisory committee to really look into most of these things and tell us
what we must do. And where we are not going right, they will help us.
They'll say, look, you have to go this way, you have to -- and it's made
up of quite a number of credible Nigerians, including some who are from
the diaspora. Then, I've just installed the cabinet last week, and the
ministers -- we just had our first executive council meeting. The
ministers themselves are now just taking over. So the -- immediately the
ministers start, you will see that most of our programs will become
very clear.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">The issues of the Niger Delta, that we have somebody
who is coordinating, the special adviser to the president on the Niger
Delta. And he has his blueprint. In fact, I didn't come with it, but he
just gave it to me as I was coming, and I forgot this room may ask. We
did an amnesty program. It divided into three stages. You have the
disarmament, which is when they voluntarily surrender their weapons;
then the rehabilitation program, that has commenced; and after that,
we're going to the reintegration.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
The rehabilitation will expose them to some form of
training, and to reorient their thinking, while some of them have been
in this armed struggle for years. And all over the world, people who
carry weapons, who use all kinds of -- (inaudible) -- they take the -- a
little more alcohol than they require. Or some of them, they even gone
into drug taking and things like that. So you must change their
thinking. So that is the rehabilitation processes. And within these
rehabilitation processes, some stipends have been paid as upkeep allows
for them to take care of them and make them to pass through that.
When they are fairly --
when they are fairly brought out from that kind of a cocoon, then you
expose them to some kind of career training; some of the areas who also
expect the international bodies and developing partners and countries
like the U.S. that is quite helpful to us, to play some role in terms of
capacity building. There are quite a number who have to train them all
over the world, not -- or we are training them in Nigeria. We're also
training them in other parts of other parts of the continent; especially
in ceasefiring and the other related areas. So that after that -- and
of course they have to be engaged in this -- in trades, that they will
be earning, getting money. Either they will take paid jobs in companies,
or probably will be given seed money to start their own business in --
you know, the area of business.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
So we have a number of things lined up. What may not
be so obvious -- but I can tell you they've let the various committees
come up with their blueprints, then they will discuss it. After some
months, tends to be clearer. And I don't really want to begin to guess
and to tell you something that tomorrow you take me to task: You said it
is ready, and now what have you done? So give us some -- a couple of
months, and the issues should be clear. (Applause.)
MODERATOR: Thank you.
Unfortunately, I think we have come to -- I was hoping we could take one
more question, but the ambassador has indicated that they must leave at
this moment. So please, let's give the acting president a big round of
applause. (Applause.)'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">And I'd like to ask everyone to please remain while
the acting president leaves.font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
Mr. Acting Vice President, we're very, very grateful
to you. You've really made our day here at the Council, and we're very
honored to be your host this morning. Thank you so much.
MR. : Thank you. Thank
you very much.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">JONATHAN: I have to thank all of you very sincerely
for your interest in Nigeria. Please continue to encourage us. We will
not disappoint you.'Verdana','sans-serif';"">
rgb(51, 51, 51);"">MODERATOR: Thank you. (Applause.)
