Today, Nigeria's President Jonathan takes campaign to epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency

President Goodluck Jonathan being welcomed by by
Governor Kashim Shettima when he visited
Maiduguri in 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan 

By Blogger

Nigerian president, Mr Goodluck Jonathan, will today take his reelection campaign to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state where the ongoing Boko Haram was birthed.

Jonathan's visit today would the second in the last ten days after he paid an unscheduled trip that lasted only three hours on the 15th of January. 

Political analysts say Jonathan’s last week visit was to water his path ahead of today's visit so that he wont be vilified by the opposition politicians for never visiting the state in the last two years during which the Boko Haram attacks that had claimed lives in thousands.

Though stringent security measures are being taken to protect the president and his campaign train, Borno state governor, Mr Kashim Shettima, had Friday issued a statement begging his APC supporters not to humiliate President Jonathan while he is in town today. The governor's plea for calm has heightened concerns that the increasing number of 'Jonathan-haters' may have been plotting a similar treat the number-one citizen was given while he was campaigning in Katsina and Bauchi states early this week.   
Mr Jonathan, while in Maiduguri, would be expected to visit the Shehu of Borno's palace to pay homage to the royal father, His Royal Highness Abubakar Garbai ibn Alamin Elkanemi.

Jonathan would be speaking to the people of the state about renewed effort of the military under his command to end the Boko Haram insurgency. He may also make promises on addressing the issue of agriculture through revamping of the moribund Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA).
Mr Jonathan is also expected to say a word or two about the Chibok girls who had spent 9 months and 11 days in captivity today.