Jonathan Not Endorsing Zion Nation, Likes Islam – Abati

The Presidency has discharged claims that Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is using his administration to follow anti-Islam agenda and endorse a Zion nation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, while speaking with State House correspondents reacted to a number of allegations made by the Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) through its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola against the president.

He said, “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement issued by the Muslims Right Concern and signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola which made a number of allegations against President Jonathan.

“I find Akintola’s allegations rather curious and they can be dealt with as follows: first, he needs to be told that President Jonathan is not anti-Muslim as he alleges’.

“Jonathan is the President of all Nigerians, whatever may be their beliefs. It is not true that the president is using the highest office in the country to promote Zion nation.”

Abati also criticized claim by the group that Muslims were relegated in the recent national conference, describing it as a very unlucky thing to say.

He mentioned that the national conference had been admired and declared one of the best of such conferences ever organised in the country.

Reuben Abati said Presidency deserves apology for false accusations.

He described as an obvious lie accusation by the group that the security system in the Presidential Villa was soaked with Israeli security operatives.

He highlighted that there were no Israeli security operatives saturating the security system in Aso Rock.

The president’s aide requested Akintola to visit the Presidential Villa to see whether it was Israelis that were in charge of security.

According to Abati, the security operatives in the Villa are not foreigners, they are Nigerians and there is no linking with Israel whatsoever.

Abati added that Akintola’s “vituperation” on the proposed centenary N100 banknote was wrong and misinformed.

He said, “The symbol his statement is referring to is the Star of David. There is nowhere on that note as indicated in the specimen that has been widely publicised where there is any Jewish or Zionist symbol or the Star of David.

“The Star of David is a hexagram which is two triangles of equal lines superimposed on each other. The hexagram is a very popular symbol but it is not on that naira note.

“The symbol that he is referring to is not a Jewish symbol. It is what they call spark security feature.’’

“It is an attempt on the part of MURIC to cause disaffection, because on the design of that note, the value of that note is written out in the three major languages in Nigeria, recognised in the constitution: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.’’

According to Abati, no effort has been made to use this offered naira note to discriminate against anybody, and the attack on President Jonathan is unmerited, unjustified and totally unkind.

The MURIC has yesterday expressed concern over what it termed a Jewish symbol on the country’s new N100 note.

The new banknote was formally presented to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja on November, 12, 2014.