Nigerian Opposition briefs the FPA 

'President Goodluck Jonathan is exploiting Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria for political ends' – Opposition spokesman

Nigeria’s ruling party wants to profit from Boko Haram, according to the chief spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is aiming to win the general election in Nigeria on February 14^th next year. 

Lai Mohammed told FPA members that the longer the insurgency goes on, the easier it will be for the Government to suspend the elections in affected areas, disenfranchising about 5 million supporters of the APC.  

The stage was set for a major political upset - but that depended on the election being free and fair. Mr Mohammed said a request has already been made for EU observers to monitor the poll. He said the APC wanted to revamp the Nigerian economy; the top issue was unemployment and jobs, followed by corruption and then security. Poverty, driven by endemic corruption, and not religion was at the heart of Nigeria’s current problems. A future APC Government would negotiate Boko Haram out of existence as a prudent and focused Government; the alternative was continuing corruption, poor governance and poverty.