President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said despite the various challenges currently facing Nigeria, it was too old to disintegrate.
Having been together for about 100 years
since the amalgamation of the North and South protectorates in 1914,
the president said it was too late for any region in the country to ask
for a “divorce.”
Jonathan spoke during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day inter-denominational service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.
He said, “In 2014, we are going to celebrate our centenary; our 100 years of existence.
“You cannot stay in a marriage for 100
years and say that is the time you will divorce. If there are issues
that we have been managing, we will continue to manage them. We will not
talk about separation.
“I always say that all nations of the
world have their own history. Sometimes, people question the unity of
this country, especially when you talk about the amalgamation of the
South and North in 1914.
“If you look at the history of very big
countries, some have very ugly past. It is for us who are alive today to
reshape our future. We should begin to talk about those things that
will bring unity and development.”
The President also warned leaders at all
levels to desist from divisive tendencies, saying the country would
overcome some of its challenges if the citizens loved one another and
live in peace.
He said, “ If our leaders at all levels,
whether political leaders, community or religious leaders, talk more
about those things that divide us instead of those things that bring us
together, then we will be encouraging younger ones who know little or
nothing about the history of this country to do things differently.
“So, the best gift we can give to the
armed forces and sister organisations, is for us in our daily utterances
and activities to emphasise the need for us to live in peace, love
ourselves and unite.
“Some people talk about disintegration
of Nigeria. Even at political level, some people take it as a weapon of
self-seeking when they want to discuss politics.
“My conviction and I believe that of everybody here is that Nigeria will continue to remain a united nation.
“Nigeria will not disintegrate. Anybody
who is doing any research on sociology, psychology or political science
can do his work, but Nigeria will remain one.”
Jonathan, who spoke also on the country’s greatness, attributed it to its size and diversity.
He said, “I always say that they say
Nigeria is big, it is not because of the oil. There are smaller
countries that produce more oil than us. What is the quantity of oil
that we produce after all?
“Yes, we do produce but our oil per unit
person is insignificant. But we are appreciated and we are still
reckoned with in spite of our challenges because of our size and
diversity both of the human beings and the environment.
“But when we work together, we will take
this country to where we want to go. Where our children, our
grandchildren and children yet unborn will be happy.”
On the security challenges, the President noted that security agents were doing well.
Jonathan said, “We sleep because our
security agents have to stay awake. In some cases where things happen,
people blame them. But for those of us who get daily reports about the
security challenge we have, we know that these men and women have been
doing very well.”
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You add to our injury in this country .
ReplyDeleteMy Prayer for you is that you and your will never no peace if you fail to tackle corruption in this country before your tenure runs out .
My brother, (or Sister), pls, sofri sofri. He is stili your President!
DeleteOga GEJ if you want to be in power come May 2015 pls fixes electricity, bad roads, proved water and tackle corruption you will win the election. 2011 you won the election because Nigerian votted for you.
ReplyDelete