By Evelyn Usman
A prominent politician in Delta State,  Chief Ogbe Onokpite, has called on Nigerians to put aside tribal and religious sentiments and support the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan , to foster  peace and move the nation forward.

Making the call yesterday in Lagos, Onokpite urged  Nigerians to keep praying for ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua to recuperate fast. He pointed out that the nation needed to forge ahead in all ramifications, stressing that informed the need for support from all levels of government to  the acting president.

Onokpite noted also that  the ailing president’s speech through his spokesman, Mr Segun Adeniyi, was a clear indication of his acknowledgment  of  Goodluck’s current position.

He said:  “The statement of President Yar’Adua’s spokesman that the Presidency is in full support of Jonathan  as the Acting President of Nigeria, while urging Nigerians to support him until  President Yar’Adua fully recuperates from  his illness,  is a testimony that the acting president  is not only representing  the interest of Yar’Adua and the entire nation, but the Presidency, Senate, Representatives and the entire nation.”

Subsequently, I am appealing to Nigerians to put their tribal, religion or political differences behind them and support Jonathan in the task of moving the country forward

Nigerians should not allow the recent arrival of President Musa Yar’Adua in Nigeria after spending no fewer than 90 days in a Saudi Arabian hospital on health ground to destabilize the on going good work of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

I am appealing to Nigerians to join me in praying for the fast recuperation of our beloved President Musa Yar’Adua. May the Almighty God guide, protect and take him out of the present predicament which was not his own making” .  Stated Chief Onokpite.