Inside Story

Goodluck Jonathan: Policies or promises?

Nigeria’s president promises to tackle corruption and an armed insurgency as he seeks a second term in office.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan promised to fight corruption and defeat the armed group Boko Haram as he declared his intention to run for a second term.

He told supporters in Abuja: “I’ve seen a different Nigeria. I’ve seen a Nigeria that even though you have current wrongs against the state, will embrace peace.”

Jonathan is facing mounting criticism over his failure to rein in Boko Haram, and his handling of the abduction of some 276 schoolgirls by the armed group.

Yet he is still viewed by many as the favourite to win February’s presidential election.

Nigeria’s ambassador to the US has even blamed it for failing to provide Jonathan with sufficient military aid to fight Boko Haram.

Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye told the Council on Foreign Relations: “There is no use giving us the type of support that enables us to deliver light jabs to the terrorists when what we need to give them is the killer punch.”

So how much will Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign for re-election depend on politics, policies and promises?

Presenter: Jane Dutton

Guests:

Musiliu Obanikoro – Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Defence, and a member of Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling party.

Clement Nwanko – executive director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre in Abuja.

Ambassador Herman Cohen – former assistant US Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Elizabeth Donnelly – assistant head and research fellow of the Africa Programme at Chatham House.