He also used the occasion to call on Muslims who might be misled to carry up arms against the state to open up their minds and imbibe the lesson of love and peaceful coexistence at Ramadan.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Ruben Abati, the President used the occasion to salute all adherents of the Islamic faith, and called on them to use the period to pray for greater peace and rapid socio-economic development of the country.
“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”, he said in the statement.
