TheCable

Next year’s general election will be free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful “to the surprise of the rest of the world”, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

There have been fears locally and internationally about an impending implosion in the country during the polls in which the president is widely expected to seek re-election.

But at the breaking of Ramadan fast ‎ on Thursday night with senators and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he reassured both local and international communities that all will go well.

“I know that one thing that is dear to your hearts is what the elections in this country will look like next year.

“But let me use this unique opportunity to reassure you and I’m conveying this to my brothers, your heads of government, that our elections next year will be free and fair.

“It will be very peaceful in nature that will even surprise the whole world.”

He also spoke on the importance of Ramadan.

“As a nation with a large Muslim population, Nigeria joins the rest of the Muslim world to celebrate this season with fraternal solidarity and prayers for peace and security throughout the world.

“It is prayers that Allah will imbue the people of the world with compassion and forgiveness to enable them to surmount the challenges of conflicts and wars in order to achieve global peace and harmony,” he said.

The dean of diplomatic corps, Mohammed Salladeen, ‎who is also the high commissioner  of Cameroon to Nigeria, commended Jonathan for fasting along with Muslims since 2010 when he became president.