Politics
Nigeria’s unity is paramount, Jonathan tells secessionist IPOB, MASSOB, others
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that the unity of the country is paramount and that when there is tension in the land, no amount of demonstration will make things change for good.
He stated this in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers Forum.
Jonathan’s statement is coming as agitations for Biafra by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and other Igbo groups are intensely demanding for a separation of South East region from Nigeria.
Jonathan said, “We should always use this period to know that the unity of the country is paramount. We cannot develop as a nation, no matter how people demonstrate, and no president can do magic, if there is tension in the land.
“This is because, immediately there is sense of insecurity in any country, investors will go back and when investors go back, of course, the economy will dwindle.
“What improves the economy is confidence and what makes investors to have confidence is peace. Nobody wants to invest where there is no peace, except those that invest in arms and ammunition.
“We should all pray and work toward that peace, that is the only way we can grow our economy.”
Jonathan advised Nigerians to pray for the unity of Nigeria as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitr by Muslims.
The former president appreciated the former ministers for putting up the forum as well as coming to celebrate Sallah with his family, adding that he is happy that former ministers saw the need to come together under a unique platform.
He said, “We should begin to reduce the cleavages and fault lines and form a political body that will look at things with national interest.“
Speaking, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, the chairman of the forum, explained that the delegation was made up of former ministers from 1999 to 2015.
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He said they came to visit him in order to keep him abreast with issues of national interest.
“Nigerians are beginning to appreciate the efforts you made in moving this country forward.
“Nigerians are still getting more aware of the enormous sacrifice you made to ensure that Nigeria remained together as one indivisible and indissoluble nation,” Turaki said.
Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, who also spoke during the visit, told Jonathan, “You still have so much to offer this country. The future is great for us, for PDP and this country.”
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yanju omotodun
June 27, 2017 at 7:59 am
Goodluck Jonathan, the man of peace has spoken, but his people won’t consider his counsel because he brought them gridlock as their president then.
JOHNSON PETER
June 27, 2017 at 8:19 am
And what has Buhari brought to you people? Prosperity of poverty? Positive change or negative change? If Jonathan had remained the president, this country would have been better and far okay for all.
Balarabe musa
June 27, 2017 at 8:39 am
Kai mana! Johnson is nothing but an ingrate and a swine. Even Jonathan knows the best man for the seat is Baba Buhari. Baba Buhari has salvaged the political and economic growth of Nigeria
Anita Kingsley
June 27, 2017 at 11:06 am
Will you keep your mouth shut?! Your suffering and enjoying poverty simply because Buhari is a northerner and you’re still defending him because you were birthed and bathed with poverty water. Your Buhari has done more worse than goodbye to Nigerians, his administration, I can conclusively say it’s a failure!
Animashaun Ayodeji
June 27, 2017 at 11:08 am
There can never be a man like Jonathan again, except we all join forces together to vote him into power again, his undoubtedly a man of peace, a man of honor who will never watch Nigerians suffer. We all need to embrace his style, which ia peace to have a working country.
Abeni Adebisi
June 27, 2017 at 11:21 am
But, it’s quite unfortunate there’s nothing Jonathan can do to help the country at this stage. If it’s seperation that will restore our peace, we just have to seperate and be in peace for good.