Jonathan spoke at the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“Your counsel, more especially offers of support and cooperation, to deal with this menace is reassuring to me that Nigeria is not alone in the fight against terrorism. Indeed, my administration is taking every measure necessary to speedily tackle this problem,” Jonathan told the assembly of continental leaders.
A violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, is currently carrying out bomb attack in the northern states and the Federal Capital Territory. On January 19, the sect detonated bombs in Kano, killing at least 300 people and injuring scores of others. Police official figure however said 186 people died in the attacks.
At the AU leaders’ gathering, members elected the President of Republic of Benin, Boni Yayi, as the new chairman. Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, emerged as the 1st Vice-Chairman; Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia, 2nd Vice-Chairman; and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa emerged the 3rd Vice- Chairman.
Jonathan congratulated the new AU Chairman, saying he had no doubt that under Yayi’s leadership, the union would build on the progress recorded last year.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Boosting intra-African trade,” Jonathan observed that Africa’s economic development would be more difficult to achieve without a free intra-African economic and trading system.
The President said it was important for Africa to build a formidable mechanism for internal trade and the economic resilience to protect its economies from external shocks.
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