Goodluck Jonathan... 14th President of Nigeria. He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is a lover of nifty hats, which makes him easily recognizable unless someone else in the room is wearing a neat chapeau...
on Tuesday formally proscribed the two groups.
He has also authorized the gazetting of an order declaring the groups' activities as illegal and acts of terrorism.
By this development, any person associated with the groups can now be prosecuted and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
This followed the imposition of state of emergency on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states considered the epicentre of the Islamic hard boys' activities and the consequent placement of a hefty bounty on Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
leader, Abubakar Shekau by the United States government.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the order has been gazetted as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013 affects both Boko Haram (Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad) and another group -- Jama'atu Ansarul Moslemina Fi Biladis Sudan.
It said that it was approved by President Jonathan pursuant to section 2 0f the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).
The statement said that the order officially brings the activities of both groups within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act and any persons associated with the two groups can now be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.
The proscription order warned the general public that any person "participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the collective intentions of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act."