Goodluck Jonathan Meet Kaduna Monarchs

President Goodluck Jonathan met with traditional rulers from Kaduna State at the General Hassan Usman Katsina House.

At the meeting, the leader of the monarchs and  Emir  of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, called for the resuscitation of  Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC).

He said if NIREC was resuscitated by the federal government, it would in no small measure contribute to the promotion of unity and progress of the nation.

According to the royal father, if more attention was given to the security of lives and property, it would automatically act as catalyst to the promotion of unity of the country.

"I want to make a passionate appeal to the government to resuscitate the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) at the national level," he said.
The emir said the visit of the president, though brief, would go a long way  in sustaining democratic governance.

He assured Nigerians that the traditional institution, particulalrly from the zone, would continue to support the government.

"We will support every government of the day towards achieving sustainable peace which include security of lives and property," he said.

Jonathan had commended the monarchs for supporting the government in ending the crisis, particularly in Kaduna.

"Kaduna State is a very tough state which you know more than me.
"Ordinarily, Kaduna would have been one of these states converted to lake of fire but because of your cooperation with the government.

"Yes, we are having challenges, but we will overcome them," the president said.
He said he was in the state for PDP's rally meant to reconcile aggrieved members and not to campaign.

"As a PDP family, we are going from zone to zone to have unity rally. Elections are coming up next year and we will soon go into elections and politics is a game of interest.

"We believe that before we start our electioneering activities, we need to come together, hold ourselves, shake ourselves before we go to electioneering.
"When we move to the next level, we will still come for your blessings," Jonathan said.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo noted that his boss had delivered on his promise to the people of the zone.

He noted that to ensure efficient power supply in the zone, an additional 215 megawatts power project would be completed and inaugurated in November.
According to him, over N10 billion was approved by the federal government for the Great Green Wall to address the challenges of erosion.

The vice-president equally told the monarchs that the rail line from Abuja to Kaduna was 70 per cent completed, while that of Kaduna to Kano was in progress.
Also speaking, former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, called on the APC National Leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to join the PDP, stressing that it is only his joining the PDP that would ensure unity in the North-west zone.

“I want to use this special occasion to appeal to my respected leader and brother to tell him that I have joined PDP and there is still a vacancy for him to come and join the PDP.

“We are talking of peace and unity, there is no way we can unite ourselves if we are not in the same party. PDP already has five of the seven states in the North-west”, Bafarawa said.

Those at the meeting included Governors Mukhtar  Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ibrahim  Shehu Shema (Katsina), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Sa'idu Nasamu Dakingari (Kebbi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and the Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari.
Others at the meeting were Muazu, Anenih, former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhome, former chairman, Ahmadu Ali.