Jonathan meets Buhari, says we need a united Nigeria

Jonathan meets Buhari, says we need a
united Nigeria




ABUJA-Former President Goodluck Jonathan
has advocated for a united Nigeria, saying
that the country would be better of as such.
He said that Nigeria's prominent position in
the global map was attributable to its size,
diversity and human resources.
The former president spoke to State House
Correspondents after holding a closed door
meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari
at the presidential Villa, Abuja on
Wednesday.
His response followed questions on his role
towards ensuring peace and stability in the
Niger-Delta region.

He arrived the Villa at exactly 1:55pm and
exited at about 2:18 pm.
He said: "It's not just about me but about all
the traditional rulers, elders and opinion
leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic
nationality. We have been in touch to see
that peace reigns in the country. Those of
you that have followed my talks when I was
here, my emphasis is that we need a United
Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria
is great not just about the oil.
"So many countries produce more oil than
Nigeria nobody notices them. We are great
because of our size, the human resources
we have, the diversity we have, if we
fragmentize the country into small
components, we will be forgotten by the
World.
"That has been my focal position and
without peace there cannot be development
anywhere in the world. We are all working
collectively to see that issues are resolved."


Speaking on his mission to the Villa, he said
he was there to brief President Buhari on
his emergence as the leader of African
Union, AU elections monitoring team to
Zambia.
"You asked why I came to see the President
today, one key thing is that having been a
head of a government, a former president
you become a state property. That's the
privilege you have but every privilege has its
corresponding responsibility, and once you
become a state property, most of your
international engagement, that has to do
with public addresses and some
international assignment becomes a
national assignment, you brief the President.
"Even when I was here the former
presidents used to do that and see me. I
have been coming. Most times, I come in the
night that's why you don't see me. I came to
brief the President about some of my
engagements. As you are aware, I will be
leading the AU elections monitoring team to
Zambia. I came to brief the President about
some of these external engagements. It is
the tradition", he said.
The former president however refused to
comment corruption saga in the country,
saying he would speak at the appropriate
time.
"I don't want to talk about that one because
there are too many cases that are in court. It
will not be fair to make comments. I will talk
at the appropriate time when most of these
things are resolved", he said.