Nigeria Will Not Break Up In 2015 - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday frowned at those predicting the disintegration of Nigeria by 2015, saying such people or organisations would be disappointed. The President spoke when Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo and other Muslims paid him Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa. Jonathan described as temporary, some of the problems currently confronting the nation noting that they are largely being fuelled by some people he called selfish elite. According to the President, “let me use this opportunity again to also reassure you, Moslem brothers, and indeed, the whole country that the Vice President and our team and I will do our best to reposition the country.

“Christians and Moslems are brothers and sisters and we must live together.
“Those who are predicting that this country will separate base on our frontlines as at the time of amalgamation by 2015, they will know that those predictions may not be true.’’
He said that Nigeria would continue to remain one indivisible country,noting that Nigeria’s uniqueness was borne out of its position as “deeply religious people of Christians and Muslims.

“For us, we cannot imagine a Nigeria without Muslims and Christians. You can call it another name but not Nigeria.
“So, it is a blessing that this is one country that you have significant population of Muslims and Christians and this religious diversity will enhance our development because we can get across the whole world wherever we go we are accepted.

“That helps us in so many ways. We are not even exploiting our diversity because of the myopic views of the elites about our situations.
Jonathan noted that he also joined the Muslim community in observing the Ramadan fast for 29 days.
“My brothers and sisters assalam alaikum. Let me first and foremost use this unique opportunity to congratulate all Muslim brothers and sisters from this great country and indeed, all over the world for going through this tempting period, in this month of Ramadan, in the month that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to humanity.
“Sometimes when you are not involved in fasting you will think it is an easy thing to go through but my trousers are just pulling out from my waist.

“So, you should know that it is not easy to forego food for a reasonable time within 24 hours of the day.
“For you to have gone through this is worth congratulations, so I congratulate you.”
Jonathan called for more prayers not just for peace in the country, but in the world, saying that “there can be no development without peace.
“Today is unique and I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to continue to pray for peace not just in Nigeria but all over the world.

“As a nation, for our children to get where we want them to be, we must create a very peaceful environment for them, so that they can develop mentally and be focused and use their brains in a manner that will bring economic changes to us.
Earlier, in his remarks, Sambo thanked Jonathan for providing the required leadership in the country.
He said Nigerians had started witnessing the fruitful results of the ongoing transformation agenda of the government.
According to Sambo, “we are here again this morning after the Eid prayer to pay homage to your Excellency and to thank you for all you have been giving to Nigeria.

“We appreciate the fatherly nature you have continued to hold us, the brotherly nature that you have been a teacher and a leader to all of us and we are learning about.
“We continue to pray that the transformation agenda which already is showing effect in this country particularly when you look at the area of power supply, the area of transportation.