Ex-President Jonathan tells Nigerians to pray

Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria

A former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday called on Nigerians to pray and work toward the nation’s unity, as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.

Jonathan made the call in Abuja while playing host to a delegation of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers Forum.

The immediate past president said that no nation’s economy could grow where there was no peace.

“We should always use this period to know that the unity of the country is paramount.

“We cannot develop as a nation, no matter how people demonstrate, and no president can do magic if there is tension in the land.

“This is because immediately there is a sense of insecurity in any country, investors will go back and when investors go back, of course, the economy will dwindle.

“What improves the economy is confidence and what makes investors to have confidence is peace.

“Nobody wants to invest where there is no peace, except those that invest in arms and ammunition.

“We should all pray and work toward that peace, that is the only way we can grow our economy,” Jonathan said.

He also commended the former ministers for forming the forum and for finding time to celebrate Sallah with his family.

The former president said that he was elated for seeing the former ministers coming together under a unique platform.

“We should begin to reduce the cleavages and fault lines and form a political body that will look at things with national interest,“ Jonathan said.

He, however, congratulated all Muslim brothers and sisters in the country for the successful completion of Ramadan fast and the Sallah celebration.

In his remarks, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, the chairman of the forum, said that the delegation comprises former ministers from 1999 to 2015.

Turaki said that the visit was to avail them the opportunity to share with Jonathan issues of national interest.

“Nigerians are beginning to appreciate the efforts you made in moving this country forward.

“Nigerians are still getting more aware of the enormous sacrifice you made to ensure that Nigeria remained together as one indivisible and indissoluble nation,“ he said.

Also, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, described Jonathan as a great leader who had encouraged many Nigerians.

“You still have so much to offer this country. The future is great for us, for PDP and this country,” he said.

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7 Comments

TO LOOT AGAIN? says:

June 28, 2017 at 3:45 pm

Nope! You mean let’s loot again? The last time you called for prayers, Sambo the new convert got more than everybody else from the treasury, Diezani, disregarded the ushers as she made away with generational portion of the commonwealth. Patience could not but help try to undo her rival who proved smarter than her. It was stealing galore! Tired of watching the show unabated, Fani-Kayode, the chief usher, even dug into the cookie jar. The new usher, Abati was not left out. Since that time, we concluded whenever we have to pray with you, we must ALL open our eyes irreverently, so that we can all guard the treasury. I mean, if this time you are calling for prayers, we are afraid nothing was left behind by the crooks called prayer partners including aunty Nenadi who unlike Esther defiled prayers and fasting with the mean guys. The Security in charge, Ambassador Oke opened a “prayer room” full of dollars just like Patience. Who then are you deceiving with this fresh call for paternoster? We will rather not pray with you than pray this prayer which covered Nigeria with irredeemable debt. Oga, never again shall we heed your summons to pray; stop calling us to loot again, because we were worse-off praying with you. Pray with bro Jona? Never again!

Temitope says:

June 28, 2017 at 12:25 am

Na so, this country needs prayers.. Let’s keep on praying for the country

PRAY AGAIN? says:

June 27, 2017 at 6:01 pm

Pray? No Sir! The last time you asked us to pray it was a big mistake. While we closed our eyes, you were busy doing Dasukigate and others like it big time. We fasted but Mama Patience dollar accounts rose steeply to our consternation. Till date, she cannot explain her source of wealth. What use is growing so thin and bony when our prayer convener and his cohorts feed fat on our commonwealth as we pray? Enough of hypocrisy Sir. It won’t work this time around. Why did those prayer sticks from South West not work for you? It was not a prayer to the Living God, an abomination of the first order. Just repent and restitute Sir. The Jonathanian prayed!

IF MY PEOPLE..... says:

June 27, 2017 at 5:38 pm

Jonathan also prays, to the gods of Dasukigate? The obas prayed with their staff and it was nullity on you because neither your ways or acts were clean. See how you’re being exposed even up to Patience. Please read Ps 24: 3-4. If we need any prayer now, it is the prayer of your genuine repentance, restitution, consecration and sanctification. If you had done well, prayers would have helped you, but this invitation to Baalim, cannot stand before the God of Elijah 1 Kgs 18: 30-39. Stop praying to the God you do not know sir. I mean you were privy to all these sleaze being exposed and want us to exchange our funds for prayers? You cannot sanctify unrighteousness with “prayers” “Reverend Jonathan”.Only righteousness exalts a nation Prov. 13: 34. I can hear Patience saying: Will you keep quiet?

Paul says:

June 27, 2017 at 9:33 am

Great leader is made not born. Keep on improving your effort for there is no end to that the grave.

Albert says:

June 27, 2017 at 9:22 am

This country need new, young and intelligent leader and not old hag. We do not want recircling of leaders. Enough of this.

EMEKA says:

June 27, 2017 at 1:41 pm

Albert, join them. I hope you are young. Let us not sit at one place and call for ‘young and intelligent leader’, when we allow them to continue to call the shots. If we dont come out they wont surrender power. Nobody gives power, you struggle for it.