Nigeria will not break up –Jonath

Nigeria will not break up –Jonathan

President Good­luck Jonathan has told those waiting to see the nation break into pieces to forget about the thought because it would never happen.

Besides, he has disclosed that his administration would be changing security approach in order to bring to an end insurgency in the country.

President Jonathan stated this when Senators Smart Adeyemi a nd Philip Ajuda led a delegation of Chris­tians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pay Eas­ter homage to him in the Presidential Vila.

While noting that Eas­ter was the most important ceremony in Christian faith, he added that without Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the Christian faith would have been in vain and that His resurrection gives hope to his followers.

The President noted that the Nyanya bombing has projected how united Nigeri­ans are against common evil, Boko Haram, saying that Ni­gerians rose up in unison to help evacuate victims and donate blood even more than was needed to save lives, not minding what religion or tribe the victims were.

He said: “Just like Christ told the people when he was alive that in the world, you will have tribulations but there is hope for you. Today we are marking that resur­rection.

“Yes, as a nation, we are having tribulations but sure­ly, Nigeria has hope. Surely, we will overcome these trib­ulations.

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

“Most of you are aware that when Nyanya was bombed, Nigerians from all religions and tribes par­ticipated in the evacuation of people who were injured even before security person­nel arrived. People donated more blood than was re­quired.

“That shows 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. We are working very hard, we are changing our approaches, God willing, we will end Boko Haram,” he said.

President Jonathan thanked Nigerians for their prayers assuring that his administration would not renege on its promises to de­velop the country.

“To you my brethren, I thank all of you for your prayers and I promise that myself and those working with me will do our best to bring development to this country.”

The President recalled the immigration incident, not­ing that many Nigerians to­day were doing jobs just to survive not what they were qualified for, assuring that his administration is work­ing hard to solve that prob­lem.

He said the youths’ popu­lation was enormous, adding that the Federal Government alone could not solve the problems, but should be the collective responsibility of the state, local government as well as the private sector to solve the problems of the country.

“We have challenges. We have issue of unemploy­ment, not too long ago, there was this ugly development at the Immigration Service, because of the level of un­employment and partial em­ployment.

“Some are doing jobs that do not meet their qualifica­tions, they are partially em­ployed. So, when you talk of employment in Customs or Immigration, you will see everybody rushing there.

“States are semi autono­mous. The President does not control state or local governments’ resources. Governors and local govern­ment chairmen control their resources. If all of us work in concert, we will solve most of our problems instead of trading blames. Government is one.

“God willing, we will get to where we want to be,” he said. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, in his remarks, commended Nigerians for their response during the Nyanya bomb blast and assured that his administration would work hard to ensure the safety of all Nigerians in Abuja

Chairman, Senate Com­mittee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, noted that Easter represents one of the most important events in  Christendom.

He noted that Nigeria was lucky to have a President whose trust is in God and declared that because “we are a nation that trust in God, Nigeria will abide for ever.”

Earlier, at a service held inside the Aso Villa Chapel, the Chaplain to the Presi­dent, Ven. Obioma Onwu­zurumba, in his sermon en­titled “Let’s Celebrate” said Easter period was a season to celebrate the risen Jesus Christ, who he described as the hope and joy of the world.

He said nothing in the world today could give one hope, except Jesus Christ.

Onwuzurumba said: “To be a President is not a small boy’s job. It is not a child’s play. It is not something you desire, it is something God gives. If you look for it, you may not get it, you will quench under it.

“When God gives you, he empowers you. Go and ask Obama what he is going through.”

Some of the dignitaries present were the Minister of Youth, Boni Haruna; Minis­ter of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke; Water Resourc­es, Sarah Ochekpe, Interior, Abba Moro, Health, Onyea­buchi Chukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, Per­manent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador God­knows Igali; members of the National Assembly and top government officials among others. Others were the Pri­mate of Anglican Commu­nion, Secretary to the Gov­ernment of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim,  FCT CAN Chairman, Secretary of CAN and Chief Imam of Abuja.