Jonathan Asks Buhari To Summon Council Of State Over Rising S’East Tensions

Goodluck Jonathan, former Nigerian president, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to summon Council of State meeting over mounting South East tensions.

Jonathan, while condemning alleged killings of Biafra agitators by Nigerian soldiers, equally said “the desecration and destruction of religious places of worship or a police station” in protest cannot be justified.

The former president said in trying to enforce orderliness, the military must be conscious of treating citizens humanly irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

He therefore called for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Jonathan wrote on his Facebook, “The reports I have received about recent developments in the country lead me to appeal to all men of good will to use whatever influence they have to push for peaceful coexistence and restraint on all sides.

“Perhaps it is time for the Council of State to intervene and offer its wise counsel.

“Irrespective of whatever provocation, Nigerians must never turn on each other.

“Even in the face of difficult circumstances, we must have faith that God in His infinite wisdom will guide us to finding a way out that is fair and just to all concerned. In as much as there may be a need to enforce order, there is a greater need to reinforce our humanity and treat Nigerian citizens humanely whether they be from the North or South.

“Nothing justifies the desecration and destruction of religious places of worship or a police station. But even more so, nothing justifies the endangering of human life.

“Let us exchange ideas instead of exchanging insults and threats. Nigeria is going through tough times because God wants us to grow through tough times. We must be resolute as a people even as we know that it is impossible to deny the brotherhood of all Nigerians after over a century of a shared commonwealth,” he wrote.