Date: 2015-03-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. And we began this campaign of "bring the girls back." In the spring of 2014. I led a bipartisan delegation to Bono state and met with families whose girls had been taken and whose girls were still taken. I met with Jubilee. an organization that had saved some of the girls and were educating them here. This resolution is particularly important because it tracks the legislation I authored. H. Res. 143. and condemns the cowardly acts of what has occurred through Boko Haram. particularly in the town of Baga. where it is alleged that thousands were killed. It also focuses on the Nigerian election. where we are asking that the elections pending this weekend will be held expeditiously and safely. I want to mention that we understand that Boko Haram is a heinous evil group that kills children and men and women and innocent persons and burns down villages and intimidates people who just want democracy and an opportunity to live. That means these elections are crucial. And those who stand for election. they must stand for democracy and the ending of the siege of Boko Haram in whatever way it can be. Let me express my gratefulness to the African Union. of which I raised a question with them. led by Chad and Nigeria and other countries to fight off the siege of Boko Haram. But let me be very clear that Boko Haram wants to be associated with ISIS. They want to continue to be heinous and evil and dangerous. They must be weeded out. and the continent of Africa must stand with them. I do want to acknowledge that there has been a victims fund set up. It is important for the Government of Nigeria to fund that victims fund and use that victims fund for the broken families and broken children. We know that Boko Haram has caused the death of over 9.000 persons. This resolution asks for the recognition of the dangers of Boko Haram and the elimination of Boko Haram and the safety and security of a strong election. Mr. Speaker. as I close. let me simply say that I urge the candidates to stand for peaceful elections. I urge the people to exercise their right to vote. I urge the international community to continue to support and promote a safe and free and fair election. And I urge the winner to bring people together and to stop this horrible siege. I ask my colleagues to support the resolution. H. Res. 53. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H. Res. 53. a resolution condemning the cowardly attack on innocent men. women and children in the Northeastern Nigerian town of Baga. This resolution also urges the Government of Nigeria to hold a safe. free. and fair election on March 28. 2015. I thank Chairman ROYCE and Ranking Member ENGEL for their commitment to peace. security. stability. justice and democracy around the world in general and in Nigeria in particular. and for shepherding this important resolution to the floor. I also thank the gentlelady from Illinois. Congresswoman KELLY. for introducing this resolution which I am proud to cosponsor. Also I want to thank the Ranking member KAREN BARR and Chairman SMITH of the African SubCommittee. Mr. Speaker. many of us are very passionate about this very important issue of peace. security. stability and democracy in Nigeria. Nigeria. a regional giant and one of Africas largest economies. possesses abundant natural resources and a historically capable military force which has provided regional stability and humanitarian support to its African neighbors and other countries around the world. We also recognize that peace. security and a stable economy in Nigeria have a great bearing on global peace. security and stability because of its posture in the African continent. Mr. Speaker. since I have been in Congress. I have worked to promote peace. security. stability. democracy and economic empowerment in Nigeria. Indeed. earlier this year. I authored H. Res. 143. a resolution urging the government of Nigeria to move forward expeditiously with national general elections. Also. last year in response to the devastating kidnapping of the Chibok school girls. I led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Nigeria. along with my colleagues FREDERICA WILSON. Steve Stockman and Lois FRANKEL. While we were in Nigeria. we met with key stakeholders for peace in Nigeria: political. community and civil society leaders. During our meeting with these leaders on the ground in Nigeria. we called for the creation of a Nigerian fund to compensate the victims of the Boko Haram attacks. starting with the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls. Thus. H. Res. 53. the resolution offered by Congresswoman KELLY. is a continuation of prior concerted efforts to catalyze peace. security. stability. and free and fair elections in Nigeria. Mr. Speaker. Nigerias efforts to adhere to democratic political processes. including safe. free. and fair elections are under direct attack by the terrorist group Boko Haram. Boko Harams terroristic activities are intended to wreak havoc on and incite fear on the part of the Nigerian people in order that they stay away from the polls. These violent threats by Boko Haram are in direct derogation of the constitutionally protected rights of the Nigerian people to exercise their right to vote. For instance. Boko Haram has caused the death of over 9.000 persons. according to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations and over 1.5 million persons have been displaced in Nigeria and regionally as reported by Amnesty International. In addition to the kidnapping of children such as the school girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in the Northeastern province of Chibok. Boko Haram has become more brazen with children now being used as bomb shields as recent news reports inform us. Boko Haram is decapitating and slicing the throats of women. leaving them for dead. These terrorists have taken over villages. raping. pillaging and stealing the resources of innocent villagers who are not able to defend themselves. Mr. Speaker. Boko Haram is a rogue bully and terrorist organization that needs to be dismantled and defeated. Nigerias success in combatting national and regional extremism is critical to the security not only the Nigerian and African people but of the United States and the global community. Our commitment to promoting democracy and security in Nigeria and Africa continues to be underscored by each and every cowardly brutal act by Boko Haram. It is critically important that we remain steadfast in our resolve to defeat Boko Haram in view of the fact that this band of cowards and terrorists has now cast its lot with ISIS. Today. by this resolution. the United States stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in condemning Boko Haram and supporting a government that promotes peace. security. stability and democracy in Nigeria. We stand together in promoting the Nigerian peoples constitutional right to exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard. Today. 5 days before March 28. the National elections. a historical day for the country of Nigeria. I have four concluding points to make: 1. I urge Presidential candidates Goodluck Johnathan and Muhammadu Buhari to adhere to the 2015 Abuja Accord to avoid any conduct or behavior that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria and fully abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria. 2. I urge the Nigerian people to exercise their right to vote and promote peace as they engage in this sacred act of lending their voices to the political process which will affect their future and the future of Nigerian youth. 3. I urge the international community to continue to support and promote a safe. free and fair election in Nigeria and sustainable democracy to promote economic upward mobility in Nigeria and opportunities for youth. and 4. I urge the winner of the national election. whomever he may be to protect the Nigerian people from the scourge of Boko Haram. and to help find the abducted girls and work with the United States and regional governments in Africa to contain and ultimately defeat Boko Haram. Mr. Speaker. peace in Nigeria requires democratic elections. the creative weapons of transparency. peace coalition building. addressing grievances. negotiations. the use of social media. infrastructure building and political intellectual capital building.