Chat 212 - News Summary...
- The President urged Muslim in Nigeria to find time in the midst of their celebrations to meditate on the benefits the country will derive from peaceful co-existence.
- He also said his administration remained fully committed to the implementation of measures and policies that would further promote and enhance national peace, stability and progress.
Chat 212 - Newsmail Report...
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday urged Muslim faithful in Nigeria to find time in the midst of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations to meditate on the benefits the country can derive from a greater exhibition of piety, honesty, selflessness, tolerance, peaceful co-existence with others, equity, fairness and justice for all.
The President described these virtues as integral part of the message of the Holy Prophet.
Jonathan made the call in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Abuja.
He promised that his administration would continue to promote and encourage the teaching of these virtues of Islam and other religious beliefs in the knowledge that a greater manifestation of such virtues and ideals would place the country in good stead as it strives to overcome the challenges of development and build a great nation.
The President said his administration remained fully committed to the implementation of measures and policies that would further promote and enhance national peace, stability and progress.
He said it was in keeping with that commitment and his firm belief in the right to freedom of expression and the right of all people in a democracy to make choices on how they wish to live and be governed that he recently announced plans for a national dialogue on the nation’s problems and challenges.
He denied insinuations that the move was diversionary or has political undertone.
He said, “Those who continue to say that the initiative (the planned national conference) is diversionary or aimed at promoting certain political ambitions are in error.
“Our sincere objective is to create an acceptable and workable platform for a national dialogue or conference that will help us to resolve the issues that still cause tension and friction in the polity, reinforce the ties that bind the country’s many ethnic nationalities and ensure that Nigeria’s immense diversity continues to be a source of strength and greatness.”
