President Goodluck Jonathan has stated he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan pledged that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territories still held by Boko Haram insurgents are totally liberated before May 29. He made the pledge when he had audience with a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organization led by the Secretary-General of the organization, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya. The President noted that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage. “We can now say two states are completely free from terrorists' control, while in the third state, it is only in one local government area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he stated. As stated by the president, the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists. He stated the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation. On his decision to concede victory to Buhari before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, Jonathan said: “Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going. If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it. “I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death.”
