Jonathan urges Muslims to pray for peace, progress as Ramadan begins

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged all Nigerian Muslims to pray for the peace and progress of the country as the Ramadan fast commences.
Jonathan in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, urged the Muslim faithful to also pray for the security and unity of the country.
He said it was the duty of all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, to also pray for the country.
The statement by Abati on Tuesday reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan salutes all adherents of the Islamic faith in Nigeria as they begin this year’s Ramadan fast.
“As they join the global Islamic community in undergoing the spiritual purification of Ramadan, President Jonathan urges all Nigerian Muslims to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace, security, unity and rapid socio-economic development in the country.
“The President calls on all Nigerians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to strive to imbibe in greater measure, the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Ramadan fast promotes.
“President Jonathan also urges all persons of the faith who may have been misled by extremists and agents of international terrorism into taking up arms against their fellow countrymen, women and children to re-open their minds, during this Ramadan season, to Islam’s true lessons of love and peaceful co-existence with others.
“The President prays that God Almighty will grant the prayers of the faithful during Ramadan, reward them bountifully and grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony.
“He wishes the Muslim community a successful and spiritually gratifying Ramadan fast.”