Jonathan Celebrates Nigeria’s Survival Despite National Challenges, In New Year Message
The Oasis Reporters
January 2, 2020
To usher in the new year 2020, Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has harped on the theme of survival of the corporate existence of Nigeria as a country, rejoicing that it has survived as “one indivisible entity despite our many national challenges”. This he calls “a thing of joy for us as a nation.
The theme of survival weighs heavily on the minds of the former president because under his administration, the country faced numerous challenges ranging from Islamist insurgency, called Boko Haram that has caused a huge humanitarian catastrophe in Nigeria’s North East that is one of the regions at the bottom rung of all development indices.
Added to the mix was the war the so called Fulani herdsmen militia launched on indigenous Middle Belt people with the aim of cleansing them from their ancestral lands for wild and open cattle grazing that is out of vogue in civilized agricultural nations. Many people were killed. The insurgency remains unabated, with rampant kidnappings and ransom payments thrown in for evil measure.
Former president Goodluck Jonathan gave up power even before the final tally of votes were counted and handed over to Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari who ran the presidential race with him in 2015.
Despite all that was said about the war against Nigeria’s corporate existence, it seemed to have escalated with millions fleeing their homes and farms to Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camps. Yet they could not find peace. It took the intervention of international donors for women to even have reusable sanitary pads. Life became brutish and short, with donor food to the IDP Camps being stolen by well placed government officials.
Former president Jonathan added in his message that “as citizens of a great nation, we must never be weary of working together towards building peace and entrenching justice in all spheres of our society”.
Jonathan further expressed hope that “the Year 2020 comes with fresh opportunities, and new rays of hope for us as a nation and as individuals. No matter how bitter and tragic our experiences and stories were last year, let’s live and act in faith to God and be resolute in our love for our country Nigeria”
“As we celebrate this New Year, let us show gratitude to the gallant officers who have remained committed to maintaining peace and defending our land. I pay special tribute to all those who lost their lives last year in the line of duty.
This Year, let’s prioritise the imperative of promoting peace, justice and love. This way, Nigeria can become a fortress of hope where citizens flourish in joy and liberty”.
Happy New Year.
GEJ.
Here’s his full message:
2020 NEW YEAR MESSAGE
I celebrate with you all for the blessing of a New Year. It is a thing of joy for us as a nation that we have survived until this time as one indivisible entity despite our many national challenges.
As citizens of a great nation, we must never be weary of working together towards building peace and entrenching justice in all spheres of our society.
The Year 2020 comes with fresh opportunities, and new rays of hope, for us as a nation and as individuals. No matter how bitter and tragic our experiences and stories were last year, let’s live and act in faith to God and be resolute in our love for our country Nigeria.
As we celebrate this New Year, let us show gratitude to the gallant officers who have remained committed to maintaining peace and defending our land. I pay special tribute to all those who lost their lives last year in the line of duty.
This Year, let’s prioritise the imperative of promoting peace, justice and love. This way, Nigeria can become a fortress of hope where citizens flourish in joy and liberty.
Happy New Year
GEJ
