President
Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commended former Head of State, General Muhammadu
Buhari, for attending the dinner to flag off the country’s centenary
anniversary at the Presidential Villa.
Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commended former Head of State, General Muhammadu
Buhari, for attending the dinner to flag off the country’s centenary
anniversary at the Presidential Villa.
Jonathan
disclosed that when he stepped into the venue and saw Buhari, he was impressed,
saying that was why he invited the former head of state to join him in
lightening the centenary torch.
disclosed that when he stepped into the venue and saw Buhari, he was impressed,
saying that was why he invited the former head of state to join him in
lightening the centenary torch.
Buhari,
who was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,
contested the 2011 election with Jonathan but lost.
who was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,
contested the 2011 election with Jonathan but lost.
The
former military leader, who had been very critical of Jonathan’s
administration, went to the Supreme Court to challenge the result of the poll.
He,
however, lost the legal battle at the apex court which declared that Jonathan
won the election.
however, lost the legal battle at the apex court which declared that Jonathan
won the election.
Speaking
yesterday at the special session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC,
meeting, the President said: “When the celebration was packaged and that day
when I got there, I was impressed myself especially when I saw the former Heads
of State, including General Buhari.
yesterday at the special session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC,
meeting, the President said: “When the celebration was packaged and that day
when I got there, I was impressed myself especially when I saw the former Heads
of State, including General Buhari.
“He
came that day and that was why I said the two of us should light the unity
torch and I think it was something nice.”
came that day and that was why I said the two of us should light the unity
torch and I think it was something nice.”
Jonathan
recalled that when the Federal Government came up with the idea of celebrating
the centenary in a big way, it attracted a lot of negative statements with many
people wondering why celebrating during crisis.
recalled that when the Federal Government came up with the idea of celebrating
the centenary in a big way, it attracted a lot of negative statements with many
people wondering why celebrating during crisis.
The
President, however, noted that the way the flagoff was packaged showed that
Nigerians needed to celebrate.
President, however, noted that the way the flagoff was packaged showed that
Nigerians needed to celebrate.
He
said: “Initially, when we came up with the idea of celebrating our centenary,
there were so many negative statements in the media.
said: “Initially, when we came up with the idea of celebrating our centenary,
there were so many negative statements in the media.
“There
were many Nigerians questioning why we have to be celebrating amidst crisis.
They claimed that our unity has never brought development.
were many Nigerians questioning why we have to be celebrating amidst crisis.
They claimed that our unity has never brought development.
“But
finally, when the celebration was packaged and that day when I got there, I was
impressed myself.”
finally, when the celebration was packaged and that day when I got there, I was
impressed myself.”
Jonathan
said the flagoff and Super Eagles’ victory at the just-concluded African Cup of
Nations showed that God had a purpose for Nigeria.
said the flagoff and Super Eagles’ victory at the just-concluded African Cup of
Nations showed that God had a purpose for Nigeria.
Source: National Mirror
