President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria would become the preeminent black nation in the world.
He made the remark on Sunday at the Presidential villa, Abuja, at a lunch organized by the Wife of the President as part of activities to mark the 2017 Eid-el Kabir.
President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the event tagged Eid-ul-Adha, said the country was a diverse nation that God has blessed in so many ways.
He said the unity of the nation cannot be jeopardized for whatever reasons because God knitted the country together and it will continue to remain so, adding that citizens of the country must therefore make sacrifices for the country to attain her destiny and also sustain the country.
“The message today for our nation from the obedience of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac is that our nation’s elite, Muslims, Christians and all ethnicities must recognise that we also must make sacrifices that are necessary to attain the destiny that God has purposed for our country. I’m one of those who is extremely confident that our nation will remain united because I am convinced that God’s plan and purpose for Nigeria is that we will be the preeminent black nation in the world,” he said.
President Buhari said all the agitations for restructuring were signs that God was about to renew everything about the country, adding that the rebuilding process had begun already.
The President used the opportunity to call on citizens to do away with hate speeches.
“Our energies and resources shouldn’t be spent again on debates about division; our manifest destiny is to be a great nation not to be talking about division. We must focus our time, energies and resources on being that great nation that God wants us to be,” he stated.
He likened Nigeria to the birth of a new child, which comes with pains and tears, saying: “We have started building that country that God wants us to be already. All the noise we are hearing about restructuring is part of the building. Everybody knows that you cannot have birth without noise; no woman delivers a baby without some noise and pain. What we are hearing today are the noises and pains of that great nation (New Nigeria) that God is about to give birth to,” he prophesied.
Similarly, in his lecture, Guest Speaker at the event, Dr Maisuna Yahaya also said Nigeria would remain united but citizens need to be patient and endure all circumstances, noting that they must remain fervent in prayers.
“The significance of Eid-ul-Adha is that of sacrifice and unity. Nigeria will remain one, we should learn to live in peace and share with our neighbours especially this festive season as exhibited by Abraham in both the Qur’an and the Bible,” he said.
Earlier while welcoming guests, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Minister of Interior, (Rtd) Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Danbazau, thanked all those who prayed for the healing and safe return of President Buhari from his medical vacation.
Mrs Buhari commended the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for holding forth so well for the President while he was away as well as members of the Federal cabinet, who also did so well.
Mrs Buhari urged citizens to sustain the existing peace in the country and support the government, in order to give room for meaningful development across the country,
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechhukwu, who gave the vote of thanks, was grateful to God for miraculously healing President Buhari.
Mr Okechukwu was also full of praises for the country’s Vice President., Professor Osinbajo for doing so well when he acted as President.
He commended the Interior Minister for contributing so well to the settling of rifts between herdsmen and farmers, through the use of Agro Rangers.
The VON Director General said the governing All Progressives Congress had done so well thus far, in managing the country with the little resources at its disposal.
There were good will messages from the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Ummah.
The well attended event was graced by religious leaders, political party leaders, as well as people from all walks of life