President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday vowed that terrorists will not stop his government from working, reassuring Nigerians and the international community that the country would soon get over it.
The President again, expressed condolences to the families of victims of the early Monday bomb blast at a motor park at Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, which claimed to fewer than 71 lives and over 124 people injured.
He spoke at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unity rally held at Polo ground in Kano, to receive a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau into the ruling party.
Apparently referring to his decision to honour the scheduled event to receive the former governor, President Jonathan said the target of terrorists is to halt governance, saying they have failed as his administration would not succumb to terror.
“Let me emphasise that terror will not stop Nigeria from moving.
“The terrorists and those sponsoring them will not stop this country from moving.
“This country will continue to move from strength to strength.
“We will continue to do our best to make sure we live peacefully in this country,” Jonathan said.
Speaking on the personality of the person being received, President Jonathan described Shekarau as a good man and a man of the people, urging party members to continue to support, project and follow him.
Jonathan said, “Shekarau is a man of the people, a man Kano people should follow, a true Nigerian. I thank Shekarau for joining the PDP today and he is fully welcome”.
Speaking, an elated new PDP chieftain, Ibrahim Shekarau, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the unity rally to welcome him to PDP as “an occasion for democracy and an occasion for choice”.
He told President Jonathan that the return of key former members of defunct ANPP and later APC was to show solidarity and loyalty to his government, promising to continue to be loyal to the party and his administration.
“Mr President, I wish to pledge my commitment and that of other members who made the choice to join the PPD with me, Shekarau said”.
He also pledged to work with the President in order to realise the objectives of the ruling party.
The former governor used the occasion to thank the President for the various federal projects that have been completed and ongoing in Kano state.
While promising to continue to re-dedicate his life to the service of the people, Shekarau called on the President to do more for the people of Kano by way of empowerment, especially by boosting agriculture.
Other speakers at the rally- PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Governors Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, all expressed solidarity with the President.
They called on party members and all Nigerians to continue to support him so that terrorists could be defeated.
The rally was attended by party chieftains, ministers and other top government functionaries.
