(Complete Updates) SEE IN-DEPTH DETAILS OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S MEDIA CHAT ENCOMPASSING INEC, BOKO HARAM, AND ELECTION POSTPONEMENT

President Goodluck Jonathan spoke in an intimate setting with four members of the press. President Jonathan’s media chat did not mention any major policy changes or announcements, and served to reinforce his position on issues of security and the general elections. When asked about his confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Attahiru Jega he responded, “if I feel that Jega is not good enough, for obvious reasons, then I can by provisions in the Constitution that gives the person who appoints the power to remove, and I’ve not told anybody I’m going to remove Jega.” His position, however, seems to conflict with statements from other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders who last week called for Jega’s resignation and incarceration. On the Chibok girls, President Jonathan asked not to be quoted when the issue will be resolved but did reassure the Nigerian public that “the issues of Chibok girls will get better.” President Jonathan was puzzled by what he calls “the politiziation of Boko Haram.” He said that “I can’t even imagine someone insinuating that I [would be responsible] for politicizing Boko Haram.” President Jonathan reinforced his previous statements that he is taking the insecurity problems in the north serious, and that elections could not be held this week because of public safety. President Jonathan made it clear that “elections will be conducted in this country and the government will be inaugurated on May 29th of this year.” Liveblog 19.12 The presidential media chat has started. It was opened by a brief speech by the president. Questioning has swiftly moved into the postponed elections. The president sought the understanding of the international community over the postponed elections. He said the kind of scenarios where elections are postponed for the sake of perpetuating power is not the case in Nigeria. 19.18 The president is asked why he thinks the war against Boko Haram can be won in six weeks even though the war had raged for six years. The president said he has just acquired new weapons, and gotten support of neigbhouring countries to fight Boko Haram. He mentioned that Chad waited for African Union approval, which they recently got too. He also mentioned that the issue of security is beyond Boko Haram. The president said it runs into dangerous signals of youth restiveness. 19.24 Do you have confidence in Jega to conduct the 2015 elections? The president said he wished Jega was seated by his side to answer the question. One of the interviewers interjected that he (Jega) is watching. He blames his supporters for rumours about Jega's resignation. "I have not told anybody that I will remove Jega," he said. He explained that if there are obvious reasons to remove Jega, he would rely on "constitutional" provisions that give him powers to sack whoever he appoints. 19.24 In the next four weeks Nigerians will see the difference in the security intervention in the North- Jonathan 19.25 On Jega: I wish Jega were here, I could have asked him to answer whether I have confidence in him Yes those who called for his sack may be close to me, but they express their own opinion. More than 80 per cent of those who sponsor messages on our behalf we don't even know them. People use the reschedule of election to misinform Nigerians. 19.26 I have never thought about removing INEC Chairman, though I have the constitutional power to do so 19.26 The level of misinformation, especially from young people is high 19.28 "Attempting to attack the president is treasonable offence. The president is protected by soldiers, not just the police. People get carried away and make some provocative statements." 19.31 "Those who pelted my convoy during my campaigns in the Northern part of the country were ignorant. If INEC conducts the election poorly, it will be on my head." 19.31 The next question is about hate speeches and political violence by both opposition and ruling party members. The president explained that "some people" get carried away by the political play and exude this violence. He blamed aides and associates of key political actors for the hate speeches and political violence. He did not categorically condemn the hate speeches or war threats or politically-motivated violence. "We will make sure things are done so that nobody goes to war," the president said when he pressed for categorical stance on the war threats by ex-militants should he lose the elections. He argues journalists have responsibility to ensure the unity of the country. 19.33 The president is asked why he frequents churches for campaign but never visited mosques. He responded by saying he does not receive invitations from Muslims. 19.38 The president is asked if election would hold should the military fail to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks. The presidents said the new dates are sacrosanct and a new president would be sworn in by May 29. He argued that the goal is not to totally eliminate Boko Haram but to make adequate security arrangement for the election. 19.42 Questioning moves to the issue of the president's perceived weak support especially as it relates to the missing Chibok girls. "Just give us some times," he said, responding to questions seeking the state of the girls at the moment. The president is optimistic the girls would be rescued with the new military collaboration with neighbouring countries. "I believe the story would be different in a few weeks," the president said. "We would recover them alive." With regards to his weakened political base, the president said "in politics, there are only permanent interests." 19.51 The president is asked to clarify his previous comments that "stealing is not corruption" He said he made that statement quoting the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Mustafa, who explained to him that his analysis of corruption cases in Nigeria showed that most of such cases were theft. He argued that referring to stealing as corruption minimizes the crime. "Ole (thief in Yoruba) should be called Ole and given that treatment," the president said. "Let us communicated properly. The word corruption, we have abused it." 19.53 "It is not actually my quotation. I quoted the former Chief Justice," as he continues to defend his previous comments on corruption and stealing. 19.56 Chibok Girls: I belief the story of Chibok Girls will get better in the next few weeks, but don't quote me. We are working with our neighbours; we will comb the whole of that place partying after abduction? It's unfortunate that people play politics with the issue of Chibok girls. It's not like that elsewhere. In other countries, political boundaries collapse in the face of terror attacks, not so in Nigeria. 19.57 On the state of the N1 billion security loan and funds confiscated in South Africa. He said the government have not started disbursing the N1 billion loans. With regards to the .3 million arms money seized in South Africa, he said the money does not belong to Nigeria, technically. He added that the matter was in court. 19.57 We have convicted more corrupt people than ever. It is just that Nigerians are confused on what the difference is between stealing and corruption. 19.58 The president is asked where he bought arms for the coming onslaught on Boko Haram. He said they managed to get from other sources other than America. 20.02 The president is asked if he would hand over if he loses the next election. "If the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, another president would be sworn in," the president said. He argued that Nigeria is more important than any individual. 20.07 The president, still answering questions on security said Boko Haram is faceless and factionalized. 20.10 The president is asked what he will do differently if he wins. He said most of the problem he had in the past is related to perception and not concrete. He did not really say what he would do differently. 20.14 The president is asked to comment on his opponent for the 2015 general election. The president responded it was an unfair question. He however mentioned that he has received more criticism that Muhammadu Buhari on social media. 20.16 The president is asked if he has confidence in INEC as presently constituted. He answered saying he appointed everyone at the management level of INEC. 20.18 In his closing remarks, the president assured Nigerians that elections would be conducted and a new president sworn in on May 29. He argued that it is better for INEC to conduct an election everyone would be happy with. SOURCE: http://kamreports.blogspot.com/2015/02/complete-seconds-updates-see-in-depth.html?spref=fb