Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all as we celebrate Easter which
commemorates the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ after his
redemptive self-sacrifice for the eternal salvation of mankind.
Irrespective of our religion or faith, all holidays provide us with a
fresh opportunity to establish stronger bonds with our family, friends
and allthose around us for more enduring, harmonious and beneficial
relationships.
As we celebrate this year's Easter therefore, I urge all Nigerians to
rededicate themselves to living in peace and oneness with all members
of their communities no matter their ethnicity, religious beliefs or
places of origin.
By now, it ought to be an accepted fact amongst us that our immense
potential for greatness in the comity of nations derives in the main
from our collective strength as a country of close to 170 million
people and the acclaimed richness of our diversehuman resources and
natural endowments.
It follows, therefore, that to successfully achieve our vision of
becoming one of the most dominant nations on the global stage in the
shortest possible time, we must stay together as a people and continue
toeffectively resist by all possible means, the evil machinations of
global terrorists and their misguideddomestic accomplices who seek to
provoke turmoil, hatred and harmful divisions among us.
I assure all Nigerians that our security agencies, armed forces and
Iwill continue to fully discharge our constitutional responsibilities
for protecting the unity and territorial integrity of this country
with all the powers and forces at our disposal.
We must have peace, security and stability to effectively implement
our agenda for national transformation in all parts of the country and
we shall continue to work ceaselessly to re-establish the prerequisite
conditions for nationwide progress and development.
For your part, dear countrymen and women, I urge you to continue to
exhibit restraint and understanding in the face of seeming
provocations. Those who mindlessly and indiscriminately attack
churches, schools, health workers, motor-parks, banks and ordinary
road users must be seen as they truly are: the brainwashed pawns of
international terrorism.
They do not represent any true religion or section of the country
andwe must never play into their hands by succumbing to their
nefarious ploys to incite religious, ethnic hatred and division among
us.
It is my hope and prayer that as we celebrate the glorious
resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, his lessons of
self-sacrifice, brotherly love, placing others before self, tolerance,
obedience, respect for lawful authorities, dutifulness, diligence,
honesty, justice and fairness to all will take firmer root in our
beloved country and help us to overcome present challenges and build
the more peaceful, secure, united, progressive and prosperous nation
of our dreams.
I wish you all happy Easter celebrations.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
March 30, 2013
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