Nigeria Would Have Been At War By Now If…—Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that the “country would have been in turmoil” if the plans of some “sons of the devil” had materialised.

Jonathan, speaking in Abuja on Sunday when the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, led a delegation of the Muslim community to his official residence to pay him Sallah homage, condemned the attacks on former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, and a top Islamic scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, by some bombers on July 23, 2014, in Kaduna.

He noted that if the duo had died in the attacks, there would not have been the celebration today.

“The recent attacks in Kaduna, especially where Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and General Muhammadu Buhari were targets are quite instructive.

“You can imagine if these two people had died in the attacks.

“Sheik Bauchi is one of our top Islamic preachers.

“He has millions of followers.

“Buhari, a former Head of State and 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 turmoil.

”We couldn’t have gathered here to celebrate,” the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

The President also extended his “condolence and sympathy to the bereaved and those who might have been injured” in the twin attacks.

Speaking further, Jonathan disclosed that, “government is looking on how to raise funds.

“In fact, we are launching the fund on Thursday.

“This is to ensure that the widows, orphans, those whose business premises have been vandalised and even our worship places, mosques and churches, that have been destroyed, we will rebuild.

“Government alone cannot do it because we will need huge sums of money.

“The Nigerian private sector is vibrant and willing if they see sincerity in government.

“We have demonstrated that very clearly and we are hopeful that on that day, reasonable amount of money will be raised.

“And, we will continue to raise money until we are able to cushion the effect of these excesses and at the same time we are strengthening our security services so that they will be able to confront this menace.”

The President urged religious leaders to preach peace to their followers, promising to do everything possible to bring an end to activities of Boko Haram in the country.

In his remarks, Sambo thanked Jonathan for welcoming the delegation to his residence, praying God to grant him the wisdom to lead the country to greater prosperity.