President Goodluck Jonathan

By Muhammad Bello
President Goodluck Jonathan has admonished the Nigerian Armed Forces to continue to champion the cause of unity and national cohesion in order to ensure the stability and progress of the country.

President Jonathan, who made the call at the emblem appeal launch for the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, said: “For me, the strongest message is that of unity. The men and women that we remember today were drawn into national service from all parts of Nigeria and they served gallantly regardless of differences of religion or ethnicity.”

He stated that: “They were united by the same purpose, to keep Nigeria secure. Their oneness of purpose and spirit remind us of the significance of national cohesion, together we can achieve a lot. Whatever may be our differences; religious, ethnic or personal, Nigeria is more important. We must be united in rising above our differences and promoting values that bind us together.

“We must refuse to be divided by those who impose ethnic and religious meaning on every national issue. Soon it will be 100 years since Nigeria emerged as one country, it is a heritage that we all must be proud of.