President Goodluck Jonathan
yesterday said that members of the Boko Haram sect were not Muslims because no
true adherents of Islam would subject the country to killings, bombings and
other gory attacks the way they had done.
yesterday said that members of the Boko Haram sect were not Muslims because no
true adherents of Islam would subject the country to killings, bombings and
other gory attacks the way they had done.
From their modus operandi, Jonathan stated that the sect members
were products of international terrorism and “not members of Islam or any other
religion in Nigeria.
were products of international terrorism and “not members of Islam or any other
religion in Nigeria.
“Those who mindlessly and indiscriminately attack worship
places, schools, health workers, motor-parks, banks and ordinary road users
must be seen as they truly are: the brainwashed pawns of international
terrorism.
places, schools, health workers, motor-parks, banks and ordinary road users
must be seen as they truly are: the brainwashed pawns of international
terrorism.
They do not represent any true religion or section of the
country and we must never play into their hands by succumbing to their
nefarious ploys to incite religious, ethnic hatred and division among us,” the
president stated.
country and we must never play into their hands by succumbing to their
nefarious ploys to incite religious, ethnic hatred and division among us,” the
president stated.
In his Easter message to Nigerians yesterday, Jonathan urged
Nigerians who he described as “dear countrymen and women” to continue to
exhibit restraint and understanding in the face of seeming provocations.
Nigerians who he described as “dear countrymen and women” to continue to
exhibit restraint and understanding in the face of seeming provocations.
“We must have peace, security and stability to effectively
implement our agenda for national transformation in all parts of the country
and we shall continue to work ceaselessly to re-establish the prerequisite
conditions for nationwide progress and development.”
implement our agenda for national transformation in all parts of the country
and we shall continue to work ceaselessly to re-establish the prerequisite
conditions for nationwide progress and development.”
Assuring Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to
peace in the country, the president said security agencies and the armed forces
would protect the unity and territorial integrity of the country.
peace in the country, the president said security agencies and the armed forces
would protect the unity and territorial integrity of the country.
He said, “It follows, therefore, that to successfully achieve
our vision of becoming one of the most dominant nations on the global stage in
the shortest possible time, we must stay together as a people and continue to
effectively resist by all possible means, the evil machinations of global
terrorists and their misguided domestic accomplices who seek to provoke
turmoil, hatred and harmful divisions among us.
our vision of becoming one of the most dominant nations on the global stage in
the shortest possible time, we must stay together as a people and continue to
effectively resist by all possible means, the evil machinations of global
terrorists and their misguided domestic accomplices who seek to provoke
turmoil, hatred and harmful divisions among us.
“I assure Nigerians that our security agencies, armed forces and
I will continue to fully discharge our constitutional responsibilities of
protecting the unity and territorial integrity of this country with all the
powers and forces at our disposal.”
I will continue to fully discharge our constitutional responsibilities of
protecting the unity and territorial integrity of this country with all the
powers and forces at our disposal.”
On Easter celebration, Jonathan said, “I greet and felicitate
with you all as we celebrate Easter which commemorates the resurrection of our
Lord, Jesus Christ after his redemptive self-sacrifice for the eternal
salvation of mankind.
with you all as we celebrate Easter which commemorates the resurrection of our
Lord, Jesus Christ after his redemptive self-sacrifice for the eternal
salvation of mankind.
Irrespective of our religion or faith, all holidays provide us
with a fresh opportunity to establish stronger bonds with our family, friends
and all those around us for more enduring, harmonious and beneficial
relationships.
with a fresh opportunity to establish stronger bonds with our family, friends
and all those around us for more enduring, harmonious and beneficial
relationships.
“As we celebrate this year’s Easter, I urge all Nigerians to
rededicate themselves to living in peace and oneness with all members of their
communities no matter their ethnicity, religious beliefs or places of origin.”
rededicate themselves to living in peace and oneness with all members of their
communities no matter their ethnicity, religious beliefs or places of origin.”
Source: Leadership
