NUJ TASKS JONATHAN

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council, has charged newly sworn in President Goodluck Jonathan to focus on issues that unite the country.

In a condolence statement on the demise of President Umaru Yar'Adua and signed by its chairman, Jacob Edi, the NUJ described the death of President Yar'Adua as sad and should serve as a rallying point for all Nigerians, especially on the eve of an election year.

Edi who conveyed the condolences of the council to the family of the late president and Jonathan called on them to see the death as an act of God and prayed them to find the fortitude to bear the loss.

Edi said the late Yar'Adua was an embodiment of humility, patriotism and goodness as he had the good of the country at heart. While he observed that the late president might not have accomplished all that he set out to achieve in his 7 -point agenda, he would be remembered for bringing peace to the troubled Niger Delta region through the amnesty programme, and his adherence to the rule of law.

He charged President Jonathan not to allow these gains waste but to consolidate on them as well as ensure that electoral reforms is put in place before the 2011 elections.

Edi also appealed to the new president to tackle the issue of power generation as he observed that the energy situation in the country has grown more worrisome with most parts of the country without electricity supply for days.

According to him, the NUJ Abuja csouncil would continue to work as partner with the government in the task of moving the nation forward while calling on security agencies to do more in bringing to book those that have made journalists targets of assassinations.