Jonathan:No Criminal Group Can Disintegrate Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that no criminal group in whatever name or guise, particularly Boko Haram or any other international terrorist organisation, can cause the disintegration of the country.

Jonathan stated this Sunday while receiving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) delegation, led by the minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who paid him an Easter homage at the presidential villa.

As a sign of the government’s determination to ward off any security threat, security has been beefed up in and around the FCT, following the threat made by Abubakar Shekau, leader of the terrorist sect.

Shekau, had in a video released Saturday, claimed responsibility for the Nyanya bomb blast and said he and his band of terrorists were in Abuja preparing to launch more devastating attacks on the city.

While addressing the FCT delegation, Jonathan acknowledged that the nation was going through some challenges, but said there is hope “as Nigeria will overcome every one of them”.

“However, I want to assure you that no criminal or terrorist group can disintegrate Nigeria. Yes, as a nation, we are having tribulations but surely, Nigeria has hope.

“Even those who think that the country will be divided into North, South, East and West, no way. Boko Haram will not disintegrate this country,” he said.

Jonathan recalled that when the Nyanya bus station was attacked, Nigerians from all religions and tribes participated in the evacuation of the victims even before security agents arrived the scene and people from all walks of life donated blood and even exceeded the requirement of the hospitals.

According to him, “It goes to prove that no criminal group funded within or outside this country can separate us. No criminal group will disintegrate this country. Boko Haram will come and go.”

The president also promised that his administration would do everything possible to continue to bring development to every section of the country.

He however called for closer collaboration from all the tiers of government to collectively work in order to solve every minute problem in the country.

The president noted that Easter was the most important ceremony in Christendom, stressing that without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, “our faith would have been in vain”.

“His resurrection gives us hope. You will have tribulations but there is hope for you. Today, we are marking that resurrection,” he emphasised.
Mohammed, who led the delegation comprising both Christian and Muslim residents in Abuja, presented an Easter card to the president.

He informed the president that "Christian and Muslim residents in the FCT, in keeping with tradition, have come together to pay you this momentous Easter homage as a mark of respect."

He prayed that the spirit of this holy season brings the president and his family hope and unhindered opportunities of fulfilling his dreams of transforming the entire country.

Members of the FCT delegation included the senator representing the FCT, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda; Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi; Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki; FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John O. Chukwu; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Israel Akanji; and the Chief Imam, National Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Musa Mohammed.