Terrorism is not Islam- President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja restated that the activities of terrorist groups across the world had nothing to do with Islam.

The President stated this when a delegation of the Muslim community, led by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, visited him at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, in commemoration of the Eid-el-Kabir.

Jonathan maintained that there was nothing Islamic about the atrocities being perpetrated by Boko Haram in Nigeria or Islamic State militants in Iraq, who had claimed to be fighting for the propagation of Islam.

“What is happening globally now has no religious basis. Only yesterday, a British aid worker was slaughtered by IS and that is not Islamic.

“Boko Haram killing innocent children and women in marketplaces, in mosques and schools definitely has nothing to do with religion,” he said.

The President noted that this year’s Sallah celebration was significant, citing certain natural coincidences, which, according to him, showed that something good was happening to Nigeria.

“This year is quite significant in terms of the celebration of Sallah, because the Day of Arafat coincided with a Friday, and, from what I was told, it takes a long time to have that coincidence.

“And remembering the fact that 2014 is our centenary year, it shows that something good is happening to this country.

“We may have our challenges as other nations, but when things begin to happen in a particular way, I begin to see light at the end of the tunnel.

“A number of things that have to do with our belief system suppose to encourage us to see our neighbours as ourselves,” he said.

While congratulating Muslims all over the world, Jonathan urged them to use the period to seek God’s mercy for those hiding behind religion to perpetrate evil.

He restated his belief in Nigeria, emphasising that the country had a lot to offer not only to its citizens but also to the entire world.

“Whatever obstacles we see are very ephemeral and part of history of nation building.

“If you read the history of all nations, there is no nation that does not pass through some challenges.

“But, they got over them and moved ahead; I think we are getting over our problems,” he said.

Earlier, the vice-president had prayed for peace and unity in the country.

He also prayed that Allah would grant the President the strength, wisdom and good health to lead the country out of its current challenges.

Among the vice-president’s entourage were the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, and a former Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Bello Haliru.

Others included Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ghali Na’Abba; the Deputy Chief Imam of Federal Capital Territory, Sheik Ahmed Onilewura.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Day of Arafat falls on the 2nd day of pilgrimage activities in Saudi Arabia.

On this day, the pilgrims make their way from Mecca to a nearby hillside, Arafat, to pray for peace.

Why Power Must Shift to Riverine People-Dr. Pax Harry

A chieftain of the Kalabari nation, Dr. Pax Harry, has said it would be unfair to deny people from the riverine communities of Rivers State the governorship position.

Harry, in an interview with THISDAY, said it is only fair and in the interest of justice that power shifts to the riverine parts of the state comprised mainly of the Kalabari ethnic group.

He said that the other zones of the state have occupied the position in the past.

According to him, “I’m calling for power shift to the peoples of the riverine communities because of what we believe power would do to the area. This is a place that has produced some of the most brilliant minds in the state. We believe that with power we shall do more to change the topography of the state,” he said.

Harry who said he was not demeaning the aspirations of other aspirants from other zones, also disclosed that allowing the Kalabari people ascend the governorship position would correct the historical injustices of the past.

Rivers State he said has continued to experience intense political activities over the issues of power shift. While the outgoing governor, Rotimi Ameachi, is said to favour power shift, many politicians from the upland are said to be interested in retaining the position.

Aliko Dangote to invest $1.2bn in Nigeria’s economy

The President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has said he will invest $1.2bn in Nigeria’s economy. This is as he expresses his belief in the country. Dangote made this known in his eid-el-Kabir message issued in Lagos.

Out of this, he said, $2.3 billion would be invested in sugar and rice production in Adamawa State to create about 180, 000 jobs and combat terrorism in the North-East.

According to the statement issued in Lagos, apart from the $12billion dollars he plans to invest in Nigeria, he would also invest $4billion in other parts of Africa in the next five years.

The business mogul stated that he would not have invested in the country, if the atmosphere was not conducive.

Dangote urged Nigerians to use the festival to pray for the country for peace and security to prevail.

He pointed out that all Nigerians needed is to continue to pray to God and cooperate with the government to jointly solve the nation’s problem.

While wishing all Muslims a spiritually rewarding festival, Dangote described the current situation in the country as a passing phase. He urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be overwhelmed by despair but to be determined and courageous.

“It is high time Nigerians rededicated themselves and maintain the virtues, without which the country would continue to wander hopelessly, ” he added.

There will be no fuel scarcity in December – FG assures Nigerians

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has assured Nigerians of constant supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, in the country especially as the year draws to an end amid festive activities.

The Federal Government, through the performance-driven Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), has effectively ensured constant supply of petrol to every part of the country, thus eliminating the price differentials in all parts of the country, ThisDay reports.

As Nigeria moves towards the end of the year, when consumption of PMS is usually at its highest level, the PPPRA, on the directives of Alison-Madueke, has mapped out strategies to guarantee steady supply of the petroleum products to all parts of the country.

The Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, who disclosed this in Abuja, in his review of the agency’s activities for the year at the weekend, said Nigerian consumers had been experiencing improved and constant availability of PMS across the nation during the year.

“As part of the drive to ensure constant availability of fuel  as we move into the Muslim/Christian holiday period and the upcoming political activities leading to 2015 elections, the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, has recently approved allocation to marketers to bring in additional fuel (PMS) into the country. Government’s commitment to its reform initiatives in the downstream, had resulted in constant supply and availability of PMS in all parts of the country, as well as ensured that the price of the product in the traditionally-high-price areas in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country dropped considerably during the year. As the year progresses, we also expect to see a reduction in the financial strain of the subsidy on the budget as the price of crude oil falls, thereby reducing the landing cost of PMS and the subsidy contribution from the Federal Government,” Ahmed explained.

Assuring consumers of adequate supply of quality products in line with international best practice, Ahmed appealed to Nigerians not to engage in panic-buying or product-hoarding.

He said the PPPRA, in conjunction with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), would ensure that consumers were not taken advantage of in any way.

The assurance was coming amidst anxiety by the business community who feared that as we approach the end of the year, fuel distribution may be constrained by the usual rise in demand for the products.

It was feared that apart from the heightened political activities and religious and social festivals which naturally drive up demand for petroleum products, the fact is that most of the nation’s business concerns usually increase their activities in the last quarter of the year in order to meet up with their yearly projections.

Last month, the nation experienced products shortage in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt as a result of the nationwide industrial action embarked upon by oil industry workers.

Normal supply of petroleum products was disrupted when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, chapter of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN), and their counterparts in the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), called out their members on strike.