Jonathan Gets Award Of ‘Peace-loving Global Citizen’

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has received the award of ‘Peace-loving Global Citizen’, in recognition of his commitment to the unity of the nation has continued to see its ethnic and religious diversity as its strength. The award was given to the President by the Universal Peace Foundation on Tuesday in Abuja.

Conferring the award on the President at the Presidential Villa, the leader of the group and a constitutional lawyer, Mr Mike Ozhekohme, commended Dr Jonathan for his commitment to ensuring that Nigeria remained united, despite predictions of disintegration.

Mr Jonathan spoke while receiving members of the Universal Peace Foundation who were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to confer on him an award of Peace-Loving Global Citizen.

''Everybody knew about the predictions (that Nigeria will cease to exist by 2015). Anything could have made those predictions become true. After all, we fought a civil war for about three years before as a nation. We have our challenges, the idea of that National Conference is to look at these weak cleavages we have in this country. We just finished that conference and were thinking of how to implement its recommendations so that Nigeria will become a stronger and more united nation. I cannot be a party to the disintegration of the country. I am quite pleased with what has happened. We have a country, the country will be more united. We only pray that the incoming government should appreciate the contributions of everybody and see how we can run Nigeria as a country that belongs to everybody: all citizens, irrespective of political affiliations or creeds,'' the outgoing President said.

He added that it has also been his position that even if he would be the President for 25 years, he would not be happy if Nigerians are killed because of him.

''Yes, there are different human beings. If you look at the behaviours of people, even among siblings, some of them could turn to be imams and pastors, while some will be armed robbers. Even somebody that has that kind of criminal intention or he is very vindictive or who by nature does not care if people are dying, even if half of his countrymen and women die for him to be a President, he will celebrate it. But for me, God did not create me that way and I cannot fit in. I believe that for us to hold any office that we want to, we must have a nation.''

 He will now represent Nigeria at the global peace council taking over from Mr Ernest Shonekan.