“Our elections next year will be free and fair” – Pres. Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday night reassured the international community of his administration’s commitment to credible and peaceful elections in 2015.

Jonathan gave the reassurance while addressing Senators and members of the diplomatic corps who joined him for the breaking of Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He emphasised that the 2015 General Elections would be so free, fair and peaceful that the whole world would be surprised.

“I know that one thing that is dear to your hearts is what the elections in this country will look like next year.

“But let me use this unique opportunity to reassure you. I am conveying this to my brothers, your heads of government, that our elections next year will be free and fair.’’

Jonathan said so much was happening in the world today which required constant supplication of all to the creator, to seek for His protection and guidance.

He said there were some members of the society who had “lost their ways and allowed evil forces to take command of their faculties.

“Let us take the opportunity of this season to ask Allah to forgive them and guide them back to the path of righteousness and holiness.

“I wish to call on your excellences and all Muslims who are praying during this period, especially during the Night of Majesty, to pray for peace and security to reign.

“Let us also pray to Allah to guide the leaders as well as the followers and give them wisdom to work for the development of their respective countries’’, he said.

Jonathan also urged them to seek God’s intervention in the various challenges confronting “our nations, especially nations facing civil strife, political instability, militancy, terrorism and financial crisis.

“As a nation with a large Muslim population, Nigeria joins the rest of the Muslim world to celebrate this season with fraternal solidarity and prayers for peace and security throughout the world.

“It is our prayers that Allah will imbue the people of the world with compassion and forgiveness to enable them to surmount the challenges of conflicts and wars in order to achieve global peace and harmony’’, he said.

Mohammed Salladeen (Cameroon), the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria, assured the president that the international community would continue to stand by Nigeria in this trying period.  

“May Allah grant you all the guidance necessary to do your job, to save Nigeria in order to save Africa and to save the world.

“We want to assure you that the international community will be with Nigeria, to bring our knowledge and all we can do to help your country get out of the challenges’’, Salladeen said.

Atiku Bagudu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, told State House correspondents that the senators pledged their support to the president at the occasion.