ABUJA – President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged African leaders to promote democracy in their respective countries to ensure faster development of the continent and faster economic and political integration.
Jonathan, who made the call in a nationwide New Year broadcast in Abuja, said such effort would also ensure faster economic and political integration in the continent.
According to him, Nigeria is a key country in Africa and hence, must work together to maintain its strategic position and collaborate with others to move the continent forward.
‘‘I call for peace in Africa and an end to all conflicts in our continent. I urge all Africans to promote democracy in their respective countries to ensure faster development of the continent and faster economic and political integration,’’ he said.
The President further stated that the nation would continue to pray and offer hands of fellowship and assistance to other Africans suffering from the Ebola Virus Disease.
He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to show compassion and contribute in whatever way they could to help their African brothers and sisters.
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He saluted the indomitable and resilient spirit of Nigerians both within and outside the country, noting that ‘‘our spirit of enterprise and the doggedness to succeed amongst all odds has been our strength’’.
He reassured that government would continue with programmes deliberately designed to create more jobs for the youth, to enable them contribute more to the growth and development of the nation.
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‘‘With our collective prayers and efforts, we will grow our economy and our people will become wealthier.
‘‘Let us continue our march to the future, toward the attainment of our collective vision of a strong, united, prosperous and harmonious nation – a secure nation for us and for our coming generations,’’ he added.
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The President, who wished all citizens a happy and fulfilling 2015, urged Nigerians to enter the New Year with renewed zeal and patriotism, to serve their fatherland with love, honesty, faithfulness and hope for a greater tomorrow.
‘‘As I have always maintained, none of the challenges before us is insurmountable.
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‘‘We must come together as a people and work with single-minded unity of purpose to overcome them.
‘‘I wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2015,’’ the president said.(NAN)
