President Goodluck Jonathan on
Thursday warned politicians who
he said were planting seeds of
discord with their utterances that
their actions were capable of
consuming them.
Jonathan, at a Christmas service
held under tight security at St.
Matthew’s Anglican Church,
Maitama, Abuja, added that such
politicians were embarrassing
those who meant well for the
country.
He also took a swipe at former
office holders who he said had
formed the habit of abusing the
incumbents and pointed out that
those who seized power by force
never ended well.
He said, “If politicians want to
take over power at any level of
government, they need not sow
seed of discord because it will
consume them.
“I believe that people who mean
well for this country will never be
happy with provocative utterances
by some politicians.
“Nigeria is nobody’s personal
estate; Nigeria is nobody’s
business enterprise; Nigeria is not
the property of anybody’s father. It
belongs to all of us.
“I get embarrassed when
politicians, maybe including me,
make statements that create
division among Nigerians or can
set this country ablaze.
“I don’t think such statement is
what a leader should make. I don’t
think that is the kind of seed a
leader should sow.
“Those who take government by
violence; those who kill to take
over power never end well,
especially in Africa.”
He reminded former office holders
who abuse, instead of advising the
incumbents that the framers of the
nation’s constitution did not make
a mistake by setting up the
Council of State.
The council, which comprises
former Heads of State and former
Chief Justices of Nigeria as
permanent members, advises the
sitting President on issues of
national importance.
The President wondered who would
be willing to attend the council’s
meetings after leaving office if
people had to abuse and kill one
another to be in office.
He said, “As a nation, we know
that anybody who has the privilege
of serving as a state governor
becomes a senior citizen. It is his
duty to assist the incumbent
government.
“The idea behind the Council of
State is that its permanent
members have vast experience in a
number of issues that they can
bring to bear on governance.
“But if we abuse ourselves, kill
ourselves to be in office, then who
will finish serving and still want to
attend the council’s meetings?
“For a politician to stand up and
say he will form a parallel
government if he fails to win an
election is wrong. What makes him
feel he will win the election?
“Even me, as a serving President,
what makes me feel I must win the
election? No matter what I think I
am, Nigerians will decide who will
govern them at the state level and
federal level.”
He urged the congregation to
continue to pray for God to forgive
politicians because that was the
only way to move the nation
forward.
On the security challenges facing
the country, Jonathan reiterated
his belief that it would end the
same way it started.
He said all that was required was
for Nigerians to continue to pray
for the country and victims of
terror.
While painting a picture of
displaced widows and orphans and
shattered communities, the
President said the situation would
have been worse but for the
prayers of the citizens, especially
religious leaders.
He said unlike the Jewish people
who wanted powerful kings with
weapons, weapons cannot save
Nigerians but prayers.
He said, “The bows, arrows and
weapons cannot protect us and
that reminds me about somebody
like Gen.(Yakubu) Gowon that you
know very well.
“Gowon was the head of
government during the civil war.
He fought with weapons but that
did not bring peace to Nigeria.
Yes, the civil war ended after three
years, but there was still no peace.
“He had to abandon the rifle and
picked the Bible. He goes across
the country praying. Many of you
are members of his group. That is
the only message that can bring
peace.”
The President noted that with the
security challenges, one would
have expected the nation’s
economy to collapse completely.
This, he said, would have led to
government’s inability to pay
workers’ salaries.
“God is with us and in spite of
what is happening, we are forging
ahead and we will pull through. I
re-assure you that we will continue
to do more,” Jonathan said.
Earlier, the Primate of the Church
of Nigeria, Anglican Communion,
Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, in his
sermon titled, “The Jewish
messianic expectations and 2015
elections,” urged those seeking
political offices to be aware that
Nigerians had huge expectations
from them.
He said, “Those who want to
represent us must be aware of our
expectations. We call on those who
will come out to take note that
Nigerians have messianic
expectations. They must perform
according to Messiah to the best
of their ability.
“The expectations may be very
high, but they must be ready to
meet them. They cannot do it by
their power. They can only do it by
the spirit of God. They must be
godly people to smite the
challenges confronting us.
“The leaders and followers have
their roles to play. No one
individual can do it. We all must
cooperate to do it.”
Okoh also urged Nigerians to
choose only those who would meet
their expectations as doing
otherwise could mean more
suffering for them.
“If we bring people who do not
care, our condition will worsen and
we will all die. God forbid,” he
said.
The clergyman also enjoined all
citizens to join hands with the
government and security agencies
in fighting the insurgency in parts
of the country.
He regretted that the population of
widows, widowers and orphans
were multiplying daily because of
the activities of Boko Haram.
He said it was important for all
Nigerians to work together to bring
an end to the scourge and the
reproach it has brought upon the
nation.
Okoh also stressed the need for
those in government to stop
playing politics with security
matters, saying there will be no
politics if there is no Nigeria.
He said, “We must join hands to
fight insecurity so that our
children will have a future. We
must join hands to pursue the
enemy out of our country. Whether
they are from within or outside, we
must fight them.”
The Old Testament reading for the
service was taken by the
President’s wife, Patience, from
Isaiah 9:2,6 and 7 while the
President read the Epistle from
Hebrews 1:1-12.
The President’s mother, Eunice,
top government officials, including
ministers and other members of
the Federal Executive Council
attended the holy communion
service.
Worshippers who trooped out in
their hundreds were frisked at the
main gate of the church premises
and entrance of the church hall
before being allowed in.
Security was provided by a
combined team of men of the
Nigerian Army, Department of State
Service, Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps and policemen.
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