Jonathan Urges Muslims To Pray For Security As The Holy Month Of Ramadan Begins

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Muslims in Nigeria to offer special prayers during the the period for peace and security of the nation as they begin Ramadan fast.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President of Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president saluted the Muslims as they join fellow adherents of the faith in other parts of the world in undergoing the strictures and spiritual purification of the annual Ramadan fast against the background of security challenges in the country.

President Jonathan urged all Nigerian Muslims to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace and security in the nation.

The President seized the opportunity of the commencement of the Ramadan fast to reassure the entire nation that the Federal Government continues to work tirelessly to curb insurgency, terrorism and other criminal acts which have caused insecurity in parts of the country.

He urged Nigerians not to succumb to despair, but to remain steadfast in the firm conviction that with courage, determination, focus, decisiveness and collective support for the Armed Forces  and security agencies, the country will ultimately overcome the evil agents of sectionalism, sectarianism and international terrorism who seek to disunite the nation.

The statement added that as they observe the Ramadan, Jonathan also called on Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves in fuller measure to the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, honesty, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Holy month promotes.

The President joined all people of faith in praying that God Almighty will grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony and wished the Muslim community a rewarding and spiritually gratifying Ramadan fast.