Goodluck Jonathan urges Nigerians to unite for greatness

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, tasked Nigerians to see their diversity as a strength to achieve the common good of the country. He said without unity, Nigeria cannot meet any of its socio-economic challenges.

Speaking when a delegation of the Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, led by Vice President Namadi Sambo paid him the traditional Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Jonathan urged all stakeholders to exploit the diverse nature of the country to boost economic development.

Jonathan said without unity, the government could not achieve any of its transformation agenda such as the provision of jobs, security, power and other socio-economic issues that directly impact on the lives of the ordinary Nigerian.

Jonathan said: "We thank all of you and we know as a nation we have challenges within this period. All Nigerians are clamouring for development. We need employment for our young people, we need power for our household use, commercial and industrial activities. We need food for our people, we need security for those who want to move around safely from one point to another. All these are possible if all of us collectively call on Allah to make it possible."

He recalled that all the breakfast sessions he had with prominent Muslim leaders during the Ramadan were to admonish them to continue to pray for the "development, economic growth, peace and security in the land so that we will get foreign direct investments."

Be our brothers keepers

The president explained further that the period of the celebration was one when we have to be our brothers keepers, stressing that "irrespective of the language we speak, irrespective of the part of the world or country we come from, is a period that Allah has made it possible for us to interact."

The president said no country stood on its own now, "even the giant countries need to live with other countries" stressing that "for us to get attraction then we must maintain peace and security in the country."

On the diversity of the nation, the president said: "If we look at ourselves, some of us are tall, some are short, some are fair, some are dark and all is designed by Allah. If Allah wanted all of us to be of the same height, we would have been the same height. So, there is a reason for the diversity and the diversity should be used to help us develop not to separate us."

While urging Muslims in the country "to continue to pray despite the end of Ramadan," he appealed to them to "pray that the commitment of this country, that myself and the vice president and others have made to transform this country comes to a fruition."

He said "no matter the efforts we make, we are humans and if Allah does not sanction it, it will not work. We believe that with your prayers things will be well in this country."

Jonathan reassures

Jonathan reassured that with his new national economic management team, "Nigerians can look forward to visible progress in the fulfilment of the promise of socio-economic revitalisation, job creation and the renewal of national infrastructure in the coming months."

The President, therefore, urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to supporting government at all times to ensure that the country continues to make steady progress towards the fulfilment of its vast, God-given potentials.

Sambo on bomb attack

Earlier in a remark, Vice President Namadi Sambo, extended his sincere condolences to Nigeria on the recent bomb attack at the United Nations (UN) House, saying the attack was not only on Nigeria but the world in general and prayed that the heinous act "will be stopped by the grace of Almighty Allah."

Sambo further prayed to "Almighty Allah to continue to grant good health and wisdom to our president and that Mr. President will lead us and transform this country as we have already been witnessing within this short period."

He also prayed that "we have peace, love, progressive and poverty is driven out of this country."

Vanguard

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