President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday admitted that Nigeria would have erupted in turmoil if a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, had died during separate attacks on them in Kaduna on Wednesday.
He said Nigerians would not have celebrated the Eid-el-Fitri because a major calamity would have befallen the country with their deaths.
Jonathan spoke when Vice President Namadi Sambo led members of the Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory to pay the traditional sallah homage on him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President described those who were responsible for the attacks as sons of the devil because of the magnitude of the calamity they would have attracted to the country.
He said, “Not too long ago, we had these dastardly attacks in Kano and Kaduna.
“We stand to condemn these acts of terror on our people and we extend our condolence and sympathy to the bereaved and those who might have been injured.
“Look at the recent attacks in Kaduna especially where Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was a target and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was also a target. You can imagine if these two people had died in those attacks.
“Sheikh Bauchi is one of our top Islamic preachers, he has millions of followers, Buhari, former Head of State and a leading political figure has massive supporters.
“On the same day,people wanted to kill them. Those who planned the attacks are clearly sons of the devil because if they had killed these two people, we wouldn’t have been heretoday.
“This country would have been in turmoil, we couldn’t have gathered here to celebrate. We thank Allah for saving their lives and preventing a major calamity that would have befallen our country.”
The President also pleaded with clerics across the country to shun the gospel of hate.
He said it was important for them to preach messages of peace and unity.
He insisted that the country could not be developed in an atmosphere devoid of peace.