Zik’s Birthday: Jonathan Sues For Peace, Unity

The president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has urged Nigerians to embrace peace and unity as a way of upholding the ideals of the first Nigerian president, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who spent his life time fighting to emancipate the country  and uphold her unity.

Speaking during a posthumous birthday in memory of Dr Azikiwe at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the president who was represented by the minister of state for foreign affairs, Prof (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri, said that Nigerians have a lot to learn from the life of the late sage whose exemplary leadership and patriotism influenced people of his generation positively.

“Nigerians should emulate the patriotism of Zik, who fought very hard to liberate the country from the shackles of colonialism. He was a detribalised Nigerian who believed in the unity of the country and fought very hard to preserve it.”

He added that his administration was passionate and committed to advancing the transformation ideals of the late Zik of Africa, regardless of the current security challenges bedevilling the country and urged Nigerians to key into his transformation agenda by supporting government policies and providing vital information that would help solve the security problems in the country.

Further, the president commended the vice chancellor of the University,Prof Bartho Okolo on his strides in developing the infrastructure in the university, stating that Prof Okolo had, by his effort, identified with the federal government’s agenda on transforming the education sector in the country.

President Jonathan however lamented the lukewarm attitude of university scholars to research and knowledge creation, a development he said has made it difficult for the scholars to access federal government’s research grants.