By
Dr. JonathanIT was a routine church service – to commemorate Nigeria’s 51st Independence Anniversary. But, for the President, it was more – an opportunity to reply critics of his administration.
Dr Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday he would not employ the maximum power in the discharge of his duties.
He said he does not have the character of a ruthless leader or that of a Commander-in-Chief that would make things happen the way some would have wanted. He believes he can transform the country without exhibiting the traits of a lion king or that of “a Goliath”.
President Jonathan was apparently reacting to criticisms that his administration is slow in tackling social and economic problems, even as it directs its energy in the wrong direction.
Among such problems are security, including the Boko Haram challenge, unemployment and the crisis in the judiciary.
He blamed the nation’s woes on certain politicians, who he did not name, for the nation’s, saying they do not want Nigeria to progress.
The President spoke in Abuja during the church service, which was held amid tight security. Many people were turned back and for the few who were allowed inside the National Christian Worship Centre, also known as the Ecumenical Centre, it was a long walk to the service – no thanks to the heavy security.
Jonathan praised the church for praying for the success and stability of his administration and promised: “We will conquer the Goalith of our time.”
“I thank you for your prayers. It is because of it we are even seeing what we are seeing today. You have been praying for us and my request is for you to continue to pray for the government.
“You have been praying for us, but others will not even want us to move an inch, especially those of us who are politicians. But, one prayer I will continue to request - because if you listen to Nigerians or read their statements - some Nigerians still want the President of this country to be a lion or a tiger, somebody that has that kind of strength and force and agility to make things happen the way they think.
“Some others will want the President to operate like an army general, like my Chief of Army Staff commanding his troops. Incidentally, I am not a lion; I am not also a general.
“Somebody will want the President to operate like the kings of Syria, Babylon, Egypt, the Pharaoh, all - powerful people that you read about in the Bible. They want the president to operate that way, the characters of the Goliath. Unfortunately, I am not one of those.
“But God knows why I am here, even though I don’t have any of those attributes, or these kinds of characters I have used as an example. But through your prayers, God placed me here. The only thing I ask you to do for me, and that is the prayer I pray every time, is for God to use me to change this country.
“I don’t need to be a lion. I don’t need to be Nebuchadnezzar. I don’t need to operate like the Pharaoh of Egypt. I don’t need to be an army general but I can change this country without those traits.
“You know these days for you to be an intellectual and for people to listen to you, you have to abuse government. Somebody was asking, is Nigeria on an auto pilot? Meaning a plane without a pilot and I say Nigeria is being piloted by God himself.
“It is not going to be easy, but with God using you and us, we will get to where we want to go.
“I just got back from the United States (US); the President of America is like the President of the world because it is the most powerful country. In most cases, if you go for UN General Assembly; if you are to speak immediately after the US President, then you are in trouble. Immediately he speaks, about two thirds of the hall will leave because everybody wants to listen to the President of America.
“When Obama spoke during the Security Council meeting outside the General Assembly, he commended Nigeria, but back home, we are being abused. When the President of South Africa and Gabon spoke, they commended Nigeria, but here, we are not being appreciated. But what I can assure you is that Nigeria is on course and with your prayers and the guidance of God, we will surely get to the destination we are going.
“It is not going to be easy because just like Rev. Yusuf Turaki said, there are Goliaths everywhere, very terrible Goliaths; the ones that can even kill their father and mother and even their children in order to stop government are willing to do it. So, we have these terrible Goaliths that are trying to frustrate us; but, surely with God, we will conquer them.
“I remember one of the sermons Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor gave here; he said every Goliath has an exposed forehead. All the Goaliths that are stumbling blocks to the development and growth of this country, God will expose their heads for the stone of David.
“Brothers and sisters, we are celebrating Nigeria at 51 after the independence, but as a nation we are 97 years old because Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914. In 2014, we will celebrate the centenary, our 100 years of existence; we will do a big ceremony. Today, we are celebrating 51 years of independence. Definitely, Nigeria is moving and, with your prayers and God’s guidance we will get to where we want to go.”
In his sermon entitled: “A mighty fortress is our God”, Rev. Yusuf Turaki, former head of ECWA Church, Jos, said the events in the country were indications that the nation has been relying on man’s strength, hence the sun is setting on us”.
He urged Christians to fight back with hope, faith and love, adding that this is the only means through which they can conquer those who seek to destroy them.
Rev. Turaki listed “four Goliaths” that are militating against Nigeria’s progress. He said Nigerians must conquer ethnicity, if the nation must grow.
He described the underdevelopment of our power system as the “Second Goliath”, saying: “For the past 50 years, we have not been able to develop Nigeria to its full potentials. We have failed to develop or have transformation leadership.”
He said the third Goliath is underdevelopment of national ethical system, adding that the constitution has no place for Christianity. To him, the fourth Goliath is destructive ideological religion.
“When a religion turns into ideology, what you see is the end justifying the means,” Rev. Turaki said, adding:
“But there is hope for Nigeria and Jesus is the hope, He has established his authority over the world including Nigeria.”
He urged leaders to be courageous to build a nation in which everybody will have a sense of belonging.
Prayers were said for the President, the legislature, the judiciary, the church in Nigeria and Nigerians.
At the service were Senate President David Mark, who took the first reading from the book of Psalms 46:9-21, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, First Lady Patience Jonathan, ministers, service chiefs, traditional rulers and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
SOURCE: The Nation Newspaper, 26 September 2011. http://www.thenationonlineng.net
No comments:
Post a Comment