There would’ve been crisis if Buhari was killed – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday admitted that Nigeria would have erupted in turmoil, if a former Head of State, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, had died during separate attacks on them in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He said Nigerians would not have celebrated the Eid-el-Fitri because a major calamity would have befallen the country if they had died.

The President said these just as the opposition All Progressives Congress called for an international inquiry into the attack on Buhari by a lone bomber.

Jonathan spoke when Vice-President Namadi Sambo led members of the Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory to pay the traditional sallah homage to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President described those responsible for the attacks as sons of the devil.

He said, “Not too long ago, we had these dastardly attacks in Kano and Kaduna. We stand to condemn these acts of terror on our people and we extend our condolence and sympathy to the bereaved and those who were injured.

“Look at the recent attacks in Kaduna, especially where Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was a target and Gen. Buhari was also a target. You can imagine if these two people had died in those attacks.

“Sheikh Bauchi is one of our top Islamic preachers. He has millions of followers, Buhari, a former Head of State and a leading political figure, has massive supporters.

“On the same day, people wanted to kill them. Those who planned the attacks are clearly sons of the devil because if they had killed these two people, we wouldn’t have been here today.

“This country would have been in turmoil. We couldn’t have gathered here to celebrate. We thank Allah for saving their lives and preventing a major calamity that would have befallen our country.”

Jonathan also pleaded with clerics across the country to shun the gospel of hate and   preach messages of peace and unity.