Jonathan: No president can perform magic when there is tension

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says no president can perform magic if there is tension in the land.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday when he played host to a delegation of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ministers, Jonathan called on Nigerians to pray and work towards the nation’s unity.

He said without peace, the nation’s economy will not grow.

“We should always use this period to know that the unity of the country is paramount,” he said.

“We cannot develop as a nation, no matter how people demonstrate, and no president can do magic if there is tension in the land.

“This is because immediately there is a sense of insecurity in any country, investors will go back and when investors go back, of course, the economy will dwindle.

“What improves the economy is confidence and what makes investors have confidence is peace.

“Nobody wants to invest where there is no peace, except those that invest in arms and ammunition.

“We should all pray and work toward that peace, that is the only way we can grow our economy.”

He also commended the former ministers for forming the forum and for finding time to celebrate Sallah with his family.

The former president said that he was elated seeing the former ministers coming together under “a unique platform”.

“We should begin to reduce the cleavages and fault lines and form a political body that will look at things with national interest,” he said.

He, however, congratulated all Muslim brothers and sisters in the country for the successful completion of Ramadan fast and the Sallah celebration.

Tanimu Turaki, chairman of the forum, said the delegation comprises former ministers from 1999 to 2015.

Turaki said the visit was to avail them the opportunity to share with Jonathan issues of national interest.

“Nigerians are beginning to appreciate the efforts you made in moving this country forward,” he said.

“Nigerians are still getting more aware of the enormous sacrifice you made to ensure that Nigeria remained together as one indivisible and indissoluble nation.”

Also, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, described Jonathan as a great leader who had encouraged many Nigerians.

“You still have so much to offer this country. The future is great for us, for PDP and this country,” he said.