Nigeria is better as one- GEJ
Thu Aug 04, 2016 08:31:am National
1.8K By Buchi Obichie
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a visit with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, former President Goodluck Jonathan advocated for a united Nigeria, saying the country would be better as one entity.
Jonathan held a closed- door meeting with the President for a little over 20 minutes, and addressed journalists as he exited the Villa.
According to him, Nigeria's prominent position on the global map is attributable not just to its oil, but to its size, diversity and human resources.
His response followed questions on his role towards ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
He said: "It's not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country.
"Those who have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great, not just about the oil. So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria, nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have. If we fragment the country, we will be forgotten by the world.
"That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved."
Speaking on his mission to the villa, Jonathan said he was there to brief President Buhari on his emergence as the leader of African Union, AU, elections monitoring team to Zambia.
He said: "You asked why I came to see the President today, one key thing is that having been a Head of a Government, a former President, you become a state property. That's the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagements, that have to do with public addresses and some international assignments become national assignments, you brief the President.
"Even when I was here, former Presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I come in the night, that's why you don't see me. I came to brief the President about some of my engagements.
"As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia. I came to brief the President about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition."
The former President, however, denied comments on the corruption saga in the country, saying he would speak at the appropriate time.
"I don't want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved," he said.
Jonathan held a closed- door meeting with the President for a little over 20 minutes, and addressed journalists as he exited the Villa.
According to him, Nigeria's prominent position on the global map is attributable not just to its oil, but to its size, diversity and human resources.
His response followed questions on his role towards ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
He said: "It's not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country.
"Those who have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great, not just about the oil. So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria, nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have. If we fragment the country, we will be forgotten by the world.
"That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved."
Speaking on his mission to the villa, Jonathan said he was there to brief President Buhari on his emergence as the leader of African Union, AU, elections monitoring team to Zambia.
He said: "You asked why I came to see the President today, one key thing is that having been a Head of a Government, a former President, you become a state property. That's the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagements, that have to do with public addresses and some international assignments become national assignments, you brief the President.
"Even when I was here, former Presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I come in the night, that's why you don't see me. I came to brief the President about some of my engagements.
"As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia. I came to brief the President about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition."
The former President, however, denied comments on the corruption saga in the country, saying he would speak at the appropriate time.
"I don't want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved," he said.
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