The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan cannot resign as a result of the abduction of 276 girls by Boko Haram.

He said no President could have done better within constitutional limit than Jonathan had done in handling the insurgency in the Northeast.

He said there was no way the President could have picked up rifle and go to Sambisa Forest.

Anenih, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja, faulted some opposition leaders for demanding Jonathan’s resignation.

He urged Nigerians to rally round the President to bring back the girls.

The statement said: “ I also understand the anger that has been expressed through the global #BringBackOurGirls movement and wish to state that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are fully committed to ensuring the safe return of our daughters.

“I must, however, deplore the situation where some opposition politicians have tried to make political issues out of it by calling for the resignation of President Jonathan over a group that is waging war against the Nigerian state.

“Such behaviour is unbecoming of patriotic citizens of a democratic nation like Nigeria.  When militants gunmen attacked a shopping mall in Kenya, killing many people and holding many others hostage, the opposition leader, Rahila Odinga, stood right beside the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, while the latter was addressing Kenyans on the dastardly attack.

“We are all witnesses to the fact that when al-Qaeda attacked the United States of America and the United Kingdom, citizens of those countries, irrespective of political affiliations, closed ranks and supported their respective Governments in their fight against the perpetrators of terror.  In these specific cases, political opponents did not ask their President/ Prime minister to resign.”

Anenih said no Nigerian President could have done better in addressing Boko Haram within constitutional limits than Jonathan had done.

The statement added: “Boko Haram is a threat to Nigeria and to our democracy.  Nobody is more aware of this fact than President Jonathan. That is why the President is doing all that is within his constitutional powers to fight the terrorist group.  It is his respect for constitutionalism that has kept him from employing jack-boot methods.

“I make bold to say that no president of Nigeria could have done better within the ambits of constitutional powers!

“Unfortunately, certain comments I have heard or read in recent times from some Nigerians who ought to know better make me wonder if they expect the President to put on a helmet, pick up a rifle and personally march into Sambisa Forest.  I ask: where in the world does a President do that?

“I am also amazed that some Nigerians have forgotten so soon that President Jonathan has replaced service chiefs twice since he assumed office in a bid to bolster the operational efficiency of the military.”