ISLAMIC sect, Boko Haram, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to embrace Islam or resign from office. However, the president, on Sunday, dismissed the demand as laughable and a blackmail.

The call was contained in a Youtube video released on Saturday, showing the leader of the sect, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, also criticising President Barack Obama of the United States of America (USA) over the classification of the sect leaders as terrorists, which could lead to the seizure of his assets in the US.

“I call on you President Goodluck Jonathan, you should abandon this ungodly power, you should repent and forsake Christianity, including Obama, who said I have business interests in the United States,” Shekau said in the Hausa language video.

In a reaction to the position, the president, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja, on Sunday, said the demand amounted to blackmail which he would never succumb to.

President Jonathan, according to his media aide, would not resign, based on the mandate given to him by Nigerians in the 2011 presidential poll.

He observed that it was, therefore, laughable for any group in the country to make such demand, moreso as the president, a Christian, was elected by both Muslims and Christians.

Abati added that “as president, Dr Jonathan is the leader of both Muslims and Christians, in fact, he is the leader of persons of all faiths.
“So, it amounts to sheer blackmail for any individual or group to ask the president of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria to convert to Islam. The president cannot be intimidated by any group or individual. The president will never resign. He has the mandate of Nigerians to serve his fatherland and nobody should imagine that he will succumb to blackmail.”

Comments (16)

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Mr president will not resign
written by Nelson perewari, August 06, 2012

Boko Haram cann't intimated GEJ,he is a president that every Nigerian voted 4.

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written by ColNwako, August 06, 2012

I would have been happier if there was no response to that statement from the leader of Boko Haram. This statement shows that the group have no aim or plan or agenda or reasons for their action. I think they enjoy the killing going on. Serial killing in action.

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Boko Haram
written by Adamu Y.T., August 06, 2012

Haba Boko Haram,Your demand is baseless just a child play. Your sponsors will soon discover their mistakes.IBB,Atiku and others.

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Politics
written by Petrosman, August 06, 2012

Dia demands only proved to us dt Notherners are solidly behind Boko Haram. Dia intention is to frustrate GEJ out of office, dey only want to use religious sentiment as dia base, cursed are u Boko Haram and all dt support you. We shall soon witness ur end

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No, what is laughable is GEJ's response to BH!
written by Kay Soyemi (Esq.), August 06, 2012

It is no season of laughter for Nigerians under GEJ's watch. And that is a fact. On the matter of BH and their wanton destruction of Nigerian lives and properties, there is only one thing GEJ needs to do - grow balls and go all out for the sect and stop playing boy scou with the JTF! If GEJ has one thing going for him, he is very humble and he should use this attribute and approach the US for help, after all, they have shown experience in how you deal with these kind of rabble. I am sure there is enough intelligence to electronically fish out the dolt called Shekahu and drop a guided bomb on him. If in doubt, ask Osama!

Once more, Mr. GEJ, I repeat, handling BH with kids' gloves is at your own peril.

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Joke or a Demand!!
written by kushal shankar ojha, August 06, 2012

It was not easy to decide for me whether the reported demand for conversion to Islam was a joke or a demand. After deliberating for a few minutes I inferred that it must be a joke, because no one can in this period of human development "demand" the President to "Convert , or else --- ". However, they person/persons concerned should desist from cutting such jokes.

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Can not resign
written by Ekeme usanga, August 06, 2012

Mr president can not resign we Nigerians both Christian and Muslim voted for him as our PRESIDENT. long live Mr PRESIDENT, LONG LIVE NIGERIA.

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written by Rotimi Ogundoro, August 06, 2012

Are these people calling themselves Boko Haram, telling Christians in Nigeria that it is either a moslem leader or no one else in power? We can afford to separate peacefully just like India and Pakistan solved their political and religious acrimonies.

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Mr.
written by Seyi Yeye, August 06, 2012

Are we any longer in doubt as to the intention of BH? Are Christians destined to servitude in Nigeria just because they embrace Christianity? Does Nigeria no longer respect fundamental human rights?
Is Islamic God unable to execute his will without calling his followers to shed innocent blood? Did he create everything including non-Muslims? And does Allah take pleasure in killing people without even giving them a chance to repent and be saved? Could this mean a very big and significant between the Christian God and Allah? Why then do we shout at the top of our mouths that Christians and Muslims worship the same God? The God I worship goes all the way to seek me and constantly enjoins me to turn to Him whenever I stray from Him. He will be very sad should I die without returning to Him. He further commands me to seek and bring to Him all around me that I can and not to kill them. Please convince me that my God is the same as Allah.

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written by Dr. J. Hope, August 06, 2012

Those enemies of state whether they are Nigerians or extremists from overseas that killed or frustrated Nigerians at home and abroad will go to hell!! They are doing everything to tarnish the good name of Islam. “When they meet those who believe they say, we believe. But when they go privately to their satans, they say, we are with you; we are only mocking. Allah shall mock them, and shall lead them on blindly wondering in their insolence.” (Quran 2: 14-15).

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LAUGHABLE
written by Emmanuel Oluwaleye, August 06, 2012

I think some people are just out there to see Nigeria on fire and they are using non Nigerians to destroy the country. This Mallam shekau or what does he call himself, I am very sure he is not a Nigerian, and if he is, he has no mother, father or relation he must have been an ophan, so lives does not mean anything to him. How can you ask the President to embrace ISLAM. I think the man is MAD, INSANE, BASTARD, ANIMAL,who will die and will become food for the fish in the ocean.

The person that is supposed to have been thrown into hot oil or given to Lion to eat as meal. Well God is on the throne and I know He is the righteous judge.
Nigeria is a multi -religious society, Jesus said, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his works.

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written by Remmie, August 06, 2012

Tell the Vice president to vacate his sit, the man is not fit to be there, GEJ perform when he seconded Yar Adua, but sambo or samado whatever he called is name, his just there as a figure head, despite the two ticket advantage, (Muslim & Northerner)

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BOKO HARAM
written by Pallibo Stanford, August 07, 2012

BOKO HARAM STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT BECOMING AN ISLAMIST IS PREPOSTROUS AND TANTAMOUNT TO AN INSULT ON CHRISTAINITY. WHOEVER ADVISING THESE GROUP OF SENSELESS INDIVIDUAL SHOULD DESIST OR FACE THE WROUGHT OF GOD

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BE A DAVID OR YOU DIE A JONATHAN
written by Wise boy u.s.a, August 07, 2012

I had a dream, there i saw a man sitting as nig. president with an arabic name.After i saw G.E.J in a restaurant in califonia i decided to say hi but befor i got to him a woman walked in, took him to the back side but when I got there He was mysteriouly out of sight. then i woke up.
Shortly after i woke up i decided to check nig. news there i saw this news head line on boko haram
However i will advice GEJ to take the threat seriously, behind the voice of B/haram are northern elites, al queda,muslim brother hood, saudi govt. and Obama. Why Obama bcos he has never condemed b/haram. pls in ur dealing with Obama do not trust him. I will advice you do ur med chek up in Isreal avoid u.s and europe/asia or russia in view of international conspiracy in the plot against GEJ.
Moreover its high time you fight like a David, surround ur self with trusted friends,make all necesary changes in ur govt., be prayerfull, be very close to Godly spiritual fathers, lastly fight b/haram and their sponsors without fear. May GOD help you.

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jonathan shud resign
written by binambaly, August 12, 2012

i dnt no why u pple only consider bh demand nd u did nt even check wat jonathan achivement snce he bn dir snce 2010.dat idiot call jonathan z a failure...he has no plan 4 nigeria.his tenure z worse dan a military administration.we can all c wat yaradua did wen he was dir..dey only vote for jonathan bcos dey tut he wud folo his boss legacy nt known d fool z a failure.d man z 2 weak 2 rule a great country lk nigeria..he shd b a local govt chairman.if dat wat dey wnt so dat peace can reighn n nigeria..mr president..pls resign/

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my president tread with care
written by paul i udedibia, August 29, 2012

the last writer has spelt it out they want to distract you so that your four yrs will be a waist do you have all the time in the world to respond to unimportant comments concentrate on govenace they will be tired with time remember the security is taking care of the situation i advice any way they put an end to it should be surported these people are born problem makers

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