“Our elections next year will be free and fair” – Pres. Jonathan
Abuja (NAN) ― President Goodluck Jonathan
on Thursday night reassured the international community of his
administration’s commitment to credible and peaceful elections in 2015.
Jonathan
gave the reassurance while addressing Senators and members of the
diplomatic corps who joined him for the breaking of Ramadan fast at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He emphasised that the 2015 General Elections would be so free, fair and peaceful that the whole world would be surprised.
“I know that one thing that is dear to your hearts is what the elections in this country will look like next year.
“But
let me use this unique opportunity to reassure you. I am conveying this
to my brothers, your heads of government, that our elections next year
will be free and fair.’’
Jonathan
said so much was happening in the world today which required constant
supplication of all to the creator, to seek for His
protection and guidance.
protection and guidance.
He
said there were some members of the society who had “lost their ways
and allowed evil forces to take command of their faculties.
“Let
us take the opportunity of this season to ask Allah to forgive them and
guide them back to the path of righteousness and holiness.
“I
wish to call on your excellences and all Muslims who are praying during
this period, especially during the Night of Majesty, to pray for peace
and security to reign.
“Let
us also pray to Allah to guide the leaders as well as the followers and
give them wisdom to work for the development of their respective
countries’’, he said.
Jonathan
also urged them to seek God’s intervention in the various challenges
confronting “our nations, especially nations facing civil strife,
political instability, militancy, terrorism and financial crisis.
“As
a nation with a large Muslim population, Nigeria joins the rest of the
Muslim world to celebrate this season with fraternal solidarity and
prayers for peace and security throughout the world.
“It
is our prayers that Allah will imbue the people of the world with
compassion and forgiveness to enable them to surmount the challenges of
conflicts and wars in order to achieve global peace and harmony’’, he
said.
Mohammed Salladeen
(Cameroon), the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria, assured the
president that the international community would continue to stand by
Nigeria in this trying period.
“May Allah grant you all the guidance necessary to do your job, to save Nigeria in order to save Africa and to save the world.
“We
want to assure you that the international community will be with
Nigeria, to bring our knowledge and all we can do to help your country
get out of the challenges’’, Salladeen said.
Atiku Bagudu,
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, told State House
correspondents that the senators pledged their support to the president
at the occasion.
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