*** President Goodluck Jonathan has given thanks to God for not allow
ing Boko Haram attackers, whom he described as sons of the devil, to
succeed in killing former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and
popular Islamic scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi last week.
He said that the country would have been in turmoil by now if the
insurgents had succeeded.
The president said he shuddered to imagine what would have
happened if both men with millions of followers had died in the
attack.
Buhari was said to be on his way to Daura, his hometown in Katsina
State, to celebrate the Sallah, when his convoy ran into the bomb
blast on Kawo Road in Kaduna. Bauchi was attacked after preaching
at the Murtala Square, the venue of the Tafsir, where he was said to
have hammered on the need for peaceful co-existence among the
people, saying: “Your good deed should not end with Ramadan but
the beginning of doing more good.”
Jonathan, at the Eid-el-Fitri Sallah homage led by Vice President,
Namadi Sambo, to his residence at the Presidential Villa, described
the attacks on Kaduna and Kano as dastardly, reiterating that efforts
were being made to strengthen the security apparatus in the country
in order to bring terror attacks and other criminal offences to an end.
He urged Muslim clerics to preach peace and not hatred, saying the
development of the country would only be possible in an atmosphere
of peace and unity. The President also announced that the Victims
Support Fund would be launched on on Thursday this week. The
funds, which is expected to be raised from Nigerians and private
sector, would be used to rehabilitate those affected by terrorist
attacks, rebuild churches and mosques destroyed in the attacks as
well as assist orphans, widows and the injured in the various attacks.
Jonathan said: “Let me plead with my brothers especially the clerics,
to preach peace and unity not the gospel of hatred when sending
their messages to their followers. Because without peace and unity,
we cannot develop this country.
In a conflict situation, people move away from such zones and we
cannot develop our communities, our local governments, states and
our country in a conflict situation. “Not too long ago we had this
dastardly attacks in Kano and Kaduna.
“We stand to condemn these acts of terror on our people. And we
extend our condolence and sympathy to the bereaved and those who
might have been injured.
“The recent attacks in Kaduna, especially where Sheik Dahiru Bauchi
was a target and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was also a target; you can
imagine if these two people had died in those attacks. Sheik Bauchi is
one of our top Islamic preachers, he has millions of followers. Buhari,
former Head of State, a leading political figure, has massive
supporters.
“On the same day, people wanted to kill them. Those who planned the
attacks are clearly sons of the devil because if they had killed these
two people we wouldn’t have been here today. This country would
have been in tumoil, we couldn’t have gathered here to celebrate.
“We thank Allah for saving their lives and preventing a major calamity
that would have befallen our country. “I use this opportunity to call
on all Nigerians to work with government to see that collectively, we
bring to an end, the excesses of Boko Haram and other terrorist
groups. We are doing everything humanly possible to end it. Govern
ment is looking on how to raise funds.
“In fact, we are launching the fund on Thursday, to help widows,
orphans and those whose business premises have been vandalised
and even our worship places, mosques and churches that have been
destroyed will be rebuilt. Government alone cannot do it because we
will need huge sums of money, the Nigerian private sector are vibrant
and willing if they see sincerity in government.
In his Eid-el-Fitri Sallah homage, Vice President Sambo commended
the President for fasting alongside the Muslims during the Ramadan
and prayed to God to answer all their supplications* SOURCE : www.sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=74115 |
