President Goodluck Jonathan has urged all Muslims to pray for peaceful elections this year. Ths was the kernel of his Eid-el- Maulud message to Nigerians of the Islamic faith. The message signed by his Media Adviser, Dr. Reuben Abati, reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan greets and felicitates with all Nigerians of the Islamic faith as they commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammed on Friday, January 2, 2015.

“As they celebrate Eid-el- Maulud which has fortuitously fallen on a Friday this year, President Jonathan urges Muslims across the country to offer special Jumat prayers for successful and peaceful elections in Nigeria next month.

“The President reassures Muslims and all other Nigerians that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure that the General Elections in February are free, fair, credible and violence-free.

“President Jonathan believes that this is essential to guarantee that Nigeria remains politically stable and continues on a steady path to the fulfillment of its peoples’ collective vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation.

“The President also calls on all adherents of Islam in the country to seize the opportunity of the New Year and Eid-el-Maulud holidays to reflect deeply on the need for a greater application of the Prophet Mohammed’s teachings of piety, charity, tolerance, justice and peaceful co-existence with others in the collective effort to overcome current national challenges.

“President Jonathan assures the Islamic faithful and other Nigerians that his administration will continue to be guided by the ideals of fairness, equity and justice for all in its leadership of the country and that on his watch as President, no Nigerian will ever be discriminated against on the basis of religion, ethnicity or social standing.

“He reaffirms his personal commitment to working diligently and tirelessly to ensure the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s agenda for national transformation and urges Muslims and all other Nigerians to support the continuation of the present administration’s efforts to build a better nation. President Jonathan wishes Nigerian Muslims a happy and peaceful Eid-El- Maulud”.