When I hear some statements, I feel sad for Nigeria ––Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said that terrorism and kidnapping were still major national challenges because Nigerians had not united against them as they did against the Ebola Virus.

Jonathan made the statement at an inter-denominational church service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, to mark the country’s 54th Independence Anniversary coming up on Wednesday:

“Take the case of Ebola for example; this is a good example all Nigerians must learn from. When Patrick Sawyer brought Ebola to Nigeria, it was in Lagos that this incidence happened and in terms of politics, Lagos is an opposition party state but the central government is the ruling party.

“From Lagos Ebola moved to Rivers State, also opposition party state.
“But because all Nigerians fought Ebola irrespective of political persuasion, irrespective of religion, irrespective of ethnicity, as individuals we defeated the disease."

The president frowned at inflammatory utterances by politicians, saying:
“We will not require people to come from heaven or other countries to solve our problems. What we require from our brothers and sisters is to encourage our military because it is not easy.

“When people are sleeping in their houses at night, they are busy fighting. Bullets are not badminton rackets or something. When I listen to some statements made by some people who call themselves leaders, I feel sad for the country.

“We must believe that we do not have any other country outside of Nigeria."