President Jonathan Commends Religious Leaders Over Contributions To 2011 Elections

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has thanked religious leaders across the country for their prayers and input towards the successful conduct of the April 2011 general elections. 

The President spoke yesterday in State House, Abuja when he received members of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) led by the Sultan of Sokoto and chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. 

The President commended the spiritual leaders for their role in mobilizing citizens to exercise their civic responsibility during the period, as well as their calls for restraint and tolerance when the unfortunate post-election violence erupted in some parts of the country. 

He urged them not to relent in preaching the virtues of love, unity and peaceful co-existence to their adherents, and welcomed their individual and collective suggestions towards nation building. 

The President assured the religious leaders that his administration is leaving no stone unturned in making positive impact in governance, particularly in improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.

According to him, even his inauguration programme would be less of merriment and more of interactions with business leaders and other economic stakeholders on how to raise the development stakes in key sectors.

“Within the next four years we must stop the importation of items like rice and fertilizer into this country,” the President said.  

Contributing, Vice President Sambo noted that government is aware of the fact that perpetrators of the post-election crisis took to violence with paltry inducement, and is working hard at its programmes towards addressing poverty in the land as part of measures to forestall a reoccurrence. 

He said the present administration has made huge investments in key sectors such as power, agriculture, oil and gas, and transportation – with emphasis on reviving the rail sub-sector, adding that these interventions are beginning to produce economic gains and better living conditions for the citizenry. 

Responding, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, congratulated President Jonathan on his “well deserved victory after a free, fair and credible presidential election”, saying it was “a confirmation of the trust that Nigerians have in you, and your acceptability as the embodiment of peace and unity in Nigeria.” 

“We note with pride your endearing qualities of humility, modesty, focus, nationalistic approach to issues and above all, the fear of God, which are qualities of a true leader in whom Nigerians can afford to trust.” 

Oritsejafor said while religious leaders irrespective of inclination will continue to play their role in promoting peaceful co-existence among the populace, Government must leave no citizen in doubt as to its willingness to deal decisively with criminality in the country. 

Also contributing, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, on behalf of the group, condoled President Jonathan and the government over those who lost their lives in the post-election crisis. 

“We support your action to unearth the perpetrators and whoever is found wanting should be brought to book,” the Sultan said.

By Oluokun Ayorinde