GEJ says Islam should not be blamed for the actions of terrorists

On Saturday, 3 September, President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the nefarious activities of terrorist groups across the world had nothing to do with Islam.
The President said this when a delegation of the Muslim community led by Vice President Namadi Sambo paid him an Eid-Kabir (Sallah) homage at his official residence in the Presidential Villa.
Jonathan maintained that there was nothing Islamic about the atrocities being perpetrated by Boko Haram in Nigeria or Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Iraq who claimed to be fighting for the propagation of Islam.
“What is happening globally now has no religious basis. Only yesterday, a British aid worker was slaughtered by ISIS and that is not Islamic. Boko Haram killing innocent children and women in market places, in mosques and schools definitely has nothing to do with religion,” he said.
The president noted that this year’s Sallah celebration was significant, because of certain natural coincidences. which he says, showed that something good was happening to Nigeria.
He said, “This year is quite significant in terms of celebration of Sallah, because the Day of Arafat coincided with a Friday, and from what I was told it takes a long time to have that coincidence. And remembering the fact that 2014 is our centenary year, it shows that something good is happening to this country. We may have our challenges as other nations, but when things begin to happen in a particular way, I begin to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Jonathan also enjoined Muslims all over the world to use the period to seek God’s mercy for those hiding behind religion to perpetrate evil. He also re-emphasized his belief in Nigeria, saying the country will overcome its obstacles.
“A number of things that have to do with our belief system suppose to encourage us to see our neighbours as ourselves. Whatever obstacles we see are very ephemeral and part of history of nation building. If you read the history of all nations, there is no nation that does not pass through some challenges.But, they got over them and moved ahead; I think we are getting over our problems,” he added.