Nigeria won’t burn over elections, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured that irrespective of the tension heralding the February elections in the country, the nation would not burn as being feared in certain quarters.

Jonathan gave the assurance while receiving the reports of the leadership of the 2014 Federal Government Hajj body led by the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Abubakar Saad III at the Presidential Villa.

Responding to Sultan’s comments, Jonathan said “We continue to pray for the peace of the country, especially as we face the general elections this year, anytime you open the papers, it is as if the country wants to burn, but Nigeria will surely be safe; Nigeria will surely be united and we will prosecute the election in the end and this country will surely be a peaceful country and we will all collectively work hard to transform our economy.”

“But you should pray for the peaceful conduct of the general elections and peaceful transition,” he charged.

Earlier in his comments, the Sultan said “You will recall that in August you approved the composition of the 23 member federal government team to lead Nigerian pilgrims and his majesty the Oba of Lagos was delegated to team on behalf of Nigerian Muslims, we want to report to you here that the operations went smoothly and was very successful, despite the earlier challenges of the Ebola scare which delayed our airlift by over a week to ten days. Despite that, due to the multi-sect oral approach the President used, the Ebola scare was contained and visas were issued to our pilgrims.

The hajj exercise was conducted peacefully without any hitches and it is also noteworthy to inform the President that during the hajj operations, the leadership of the team, the Oba of Lagos and the Muslim clerics from all over the country came together and organised special prayers for peace stability and progress of our country and most importantly for the peaceful conduct of the elections.”