Boko Haram: Oritsejafor, others visit Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to find a lasting panacea to the violence by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram in the county. The call was made by religious leaders under the aegis of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council on Tuesday in closed doors meeting with President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Leading the tem were the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Other members of the delegation were the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; Secretary-General of NSCIA, Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Revd. Ambrose Okoh; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde; and Dr. Sheikh Lemu, among others. Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Oloyede said Abubakar and Oritsejafor alongside some other members of NIREC made some suggestions to the President on ways to improve the security situation in the country. Although
he did not disclose the details, Oloyede, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said the suggestions which were new, would lead to improved security if implemented. He said, “We want all the people in this country to know that we are together in this boat and the boat should not be rocked and we should do everything possible to live harmoniously together because if God had wished, he would have made us a monolithic nation. The plurality of this country is a strength and it should be made to be so.” In a statement issued after the meeting by the Special Adviser on Media to the President, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan urged members of NIREC to take a united position to commend or condemn positive or negative actions and utterances of groups and individuals that may threaten the peace of the nation. The President acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, but said government would continue to do its best, adding that this was a passing phase in the nation’s development.