President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured the international community of his determination to recover all the territories in the hand of Boko Haram.

He said that this was important so that the presidential elections could be conducted peacefully in those areas.

The President, who was speaking yesterday at a cocktail in honour of diplomats and high commissioners in Nigeria, commended the collaboration with other countries in the fight against terror, promising to win the war decisively.

He also spoke on the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the general elections by six weeks.

The President said that what has happened was an adjustment in dates within the constitution which would not in any way affect the inauguration of a new government.

According to the President, the issue is not that Boko Haram would be completely wiped out but all those states in the North-East still in the hands of the Boko Haram terror group would be cleaned up to enable people in those areas to exercise their democratic rights.

“The security people are not saying that they must wipe out Boko Haram before election could be conducted.

“There are Boko Haram related security issues and there other security issues that were noticed over the period of campaign which if we don’t prepare properly and modify the security architecture we normally use for elections the country may go into flames.

“For now about three states are in the enclave of Boko Haram where conducting elections may be difficult but this period will give them the opportunity to clean up the three states,” the President said.

He added: “Elections will be conducted as scheduled and on the 29th of May there will be an inauguration of a President for this country.”

•Excerpted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows President Jonathan.

Update news