President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the pecular nature of how certain things have been happening to Nigeria has made him to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the success in tackling the security and other challenges facing it.
“We may have our challenges as other nations but when things begin to happen in a particular way, I begin to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
President Jonathan who received Abuja Muslim residents that paid him Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today referred to this year’s Arafat Day in Mecca, which coincided with Friday, as quite significant in terms of celebrating Sallah.
From what I was told, it (Arafat Day) takes a long time to have that coincidence and remembering the fact that 2014 is our centenary year, that shows that something good is happening to this country.”
President Jonathan said that a number of things that has to do “with our belief system suppose to encourage us to see our neighbour as ourselves.”
He noted that Muslim pilgrimage is quite unique, saying: “we just watched the people who are performing (Hajj) on television; you see that everybody wore the same clothe. It showed that the kind of ranks we give to ourselves here are for the earthly journey. There, no president, no messenger. That should teach us that we should be humble and be kind to ourselves in the spirit of the moment, giving gifts. That should remind us about the significance of the moment when Abraham was to sacrifice his son: the only one he had. Of course, the Angel replaced it with a ram. That is the essence of this period.”
He spoke about terrorism, insisting that what is now happening globally has no religious basis.
“Only yesterday, a British Aid worker was slaughtered by ISIS and that is not Islamic.”
President Jonathan also insisted that members of the outlawed Boko Haram who have been ravaging parts of the North, killing innocent children and women in market places, in mosques, schools definitely has nothing to do with religion.
“For us as a nation, we should use this period to charge ourselves, call on ourselves, encourage ourselves to continue to pray for the forgiveness of those who are doing things that are not religious and for Allah to see us through.
“I believe in this country, I believe that Nigeria has a lot to offer not only to Nigerians but to the world and that surely we will get to where we want to go.
“Whatever obstacles we see are very ephemeral and part of history of nation building. If you read the history, there is no nation that does not pass through some challenges but they got over them and move ahead. I think we are getting over our problems.”
The Abuja Muslims residents were led to President Jonathan residence in the Villa by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo and the minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide. [myad]
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