by Akan Ido

Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, has come all out to defend the activities of his principal i n handling the fight against the Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram. Abati said the Federal Government is winning the war against terrorism.

Abati took this position on The Stream, a highly interactive programme on Al-Jazeera hosted by renowned journalist and former CNN anchorwoman, Femi Oke.

According to Abati, who was on the programme with a serving senator, Ahmad Khalifa, Aminu Gamuwa, and a graduate student based in Poland, Babatunde Rosanwo: “The government is winning the war against Boko Haram. The violence has reduced compared to the situation a year ago. Nigerians go to church with fear and trepidation every Sunday but that does not happen anymore.”

In his reaction to Abati’s statement, Rosanwo said “the government must come down to the level of its citizens; they are the ones that are being killed.”

“The government is definitely not winning the war against Boko Haram,” he said.

Senator Khalifa agreed with Rosanwo saying the government has failed in protecting the lives and property of citizens in the affected areas. He put holes in Abati’s argument saying the insurgents are within the community – a notion contrary to the official stance of the government which suggests that the Islamic militant sect adopts a cross-border guerrilla attack strategy.

Rosanwo stated that the president needs to show some empathy to the victims of Boko Haram in Yobe, Borno and Bauchi by paying a visit to the region instead of sitting put in Abuja.

“You need to stop this centenary nonsense,” he said. “How can you celebrate when forty three kids were killed? What stops Mr. President from visiting Borno?” he asked rhetorically.

Abati countered saying citizens, especially a serving senator, should be careful not to make statements that are capable of demoralizing the troops fighting against insurgents. He assured Nigerians of the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to the security of every citizen.

The Stream is a web community and daily television show powered by social media and citizen journalism.