President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday affirmed that those predicting that Nigeria would break up by 2015 would be disappointed.
Jonathan stated this when, Vice President, Namadi Sambo and other Muslim faithful, paid him Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President said that some of the problems currently being faced by the nation were fuelled by some selfish elites.
He said, “Let me use this opportunity again to also reassure you, Muslim brothers, and indeed, the whole country that myself, the Vice President and our team will do our best to reposition the country.
“Christians and Muslims 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, will know that those predictions may not be true.”
He asserted that nothing would tear the nation apart, adding that Nigeria’s uniqueness was borne out of its status as a country made up of “deeply religious people of Christian and Muslim background”.
“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 to the whole world; and wherever we go, we are accepted.
“That helps us in so many ways. We are not even exploring our diversity because of the myopic views of the elites about our situations,” Goodluck Jonathan stated
Jonathan who also participated in the 29 days fasting, congratulated all Muslims for the successful fasting.
“My brothers and sisters, 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 Holy month that the 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. 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.
“Today is a unique day, and I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters that they should continue to pray for peace, not just in Nigeria but all over the world.
“If you watch television these days, more than 60 per cent of the time is spent on showing crises all over the world.
“And for the world to move ahead and for Nigeria to move ahead, for us to develop first and foremost, there must be peace and security.
“Nobody will come and invest in an environment where you are not sure of your workers and investment.
“As a nation, for our children to get where we want them to be, we must create a very peaceful environment for them.
So, they can develop mentally and be focused and use their brains in a manner that will bring economic changes to us.
“In Nigeria, we are very religious people and we believe in one Almighty God and we will continue to pray. God will see us through,” he said.
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