The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended
President Goodluck Jonathan for the successful Centenary Celebrations
saying the events have ushered in a new and beautiful era of oneness,
brotherliness, unity and peace in the nation.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on
Saturday said the party is very proud of President Jonathan for organizing
the events which “not only succeeded in putting the nation on the
international arena to showcase our best but also fostered unity and
genuine reconciliation among our leaders and the people.”
“The Centenary celebrations have ushered in a new era. They have rekindled
the Nigerian spirit in all of us. They have revived our sense of
patriotism; our inner love for one another as one people under God.
“The Centenary Concert not only reminded us of our common root but also
pointed us to our rich heritage which comes alive only when we combine our
energies as a people. It showed we are indeed one people determined to
succeed and that our divisions are as ephemeral as they are artificial.
“The PDP and indeed all well meaning Nigerians appreciate President
Goodluck Jonathan for organizing the centenary prayers and the Award Nite
which for the first time in contemporary history brought together all our
living past leaders under one roof despite their differences, perceived or
real.
“Nigerians were moved and their hopes of a peaceful great nation was
rekindled when they saw former President Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu
Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdusalami Abubakar come
together. Nigerians were moved when they saw General Olusegun Obasanjo and
President Goodluck Jonathan together irrespective of their perceived
misunderstandings. This shows that our differences and disagreements as a
nation do not get to the bones and can always be resolved.
“We remain eternally grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for using the
event not only to awaken the spirit of patriotism by honouring outstanding
Nigerians but also to engender genuine reconciliation among our leaders; a
feat which has opened the portals for a new era of peace
and unity among the people irrespective of political, religious, ethnic
and sectional affiliations.
“We also salute our leaders for this show of statesmanship and urge that
such understanding, maturity and patriotism should trickle down to all
other leaders at all levels. We cannot agree less with Nigerians in their
insistence that this would not have been possible but for the humility,
candour and the forthrightness of President Goodluck Jonathan in handling
national issues in spite of the challenges we face as a nation.
“Those who believed that the Centenary is not worth celebrating can now
see their mistake. Through the Centenary celebrations, Nigeria is now in a
new era where brotherly love, peace and unity have been revived. We have
moved into a new era where we must eschew all forms of bitterness, crucify
all that divide us and focus only on those things that bind us together as
one people.
“The entire world is watching us. We are now in a period where the unity,
prosperity and happiness of our people must be our collective priority;
where the shedding of the blood of the innocent must stop and where our
dear nation and our people are no longer defined by political, tribal,
religious and sectional considerations but as a united people with a
common destiny.
“Our nation has for long been under attack by sectional interest and this
is the time to silence such interests and build a strong and united
country. The challenges we face are transitory and cannot defeat our
collective spirit. We must learn to support our leaders and in this
regard, our criticisms must be constructive and all forms of bigotry must
end.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians, irrespective of political
affiliations to stand up and defend our common destiny as a nation. If
you have ever benefitted from the soil of this country; if you have ever
drank from the waters of Nigeria; if you have ever been refreshed by the
cool and fresh air God has blessed us with; if you have ever eaten of the
fruit of this land, then the time has come for you to give back to the
land. Let us stand up and collectively establish and defend the unity and
greatness of our dear nation so that labours of our heros past shall not
and shall not be in vain.”