First Lady, Patience Jonathan has called on Nigerians to stop the incessant name calling and slander of her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking during ceremony to mark 2014 Children’s Day at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mrs. Jonathan also received letters of protest from children to Boko Haram and President Jonathan.
She said, “It is bad to abuse our country and the President because God has made him the head.
“The Almighty God commands us to pray for our leaders. We therefore need to pray for the development of our country and the President.
“Remember that a child that abuses his father and mother is disobeying God’s commandment because the Bible says in Exodus 20:12 that you should honour your father and mother so that you may live long in the land that the Lord your God has given you.”
On the letters, she said, “Let me thank the children that gave me a letter to give Boko Haram. Well, I have received your letter, but I am not the one to give it to Boko Haram because I don’t know Boko Haram and I have never seen Boko Haram. But I will give it to the NSS or the Chief of Defence Staff who will submit your letter accordingly.
“To my children, thank you for your letter. Thank you for your deliberation. I have received what you gave to me. I will make sure I pass it to the President because it is addressed to him and the other one is addressed to Boko Haram. That is why the two are different,” she added.
The first lady called on Nigerians to unite in the war against terrorism, insisting that it was the right of every child to a good education.
“It is the right of every child to go to school. It is only through education that you can be able to achieve your dreams and contribute meaningfully to your community and the nation.
“We desire peace in our community and in our nation. I want you all to be ambassadors of peace in your schools and practise good manners. We have no other country than Nigeria.
“We therefore need to be patriotic and committed to our dear country. We should strengthen our covenant with our country as outlined in the National Pledge.
“Let us therefore be united in fighting terrorism. We should encourage our soldiers who are in the frontline to rescue our beloved daughters,” she said.