President Goodluck Jonathan has said Nigeria is not the personal estate of anybody but for the generality of Nigerians.
Speaking on Thursday during the Christmas service at the St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja, Jonathan said only the will of God shall prevail on the forthcoming general elections.
President Jonathan in a lengthy speech said: “It is a week to the end of the year. Next year, from January, we will see all political actors campaigning and from the middle of February to the end, we will have the elections at the various levels.”
“I believe we the politicians are not putting out the right utterances and I am very sure that those of you who mean well for this country are not happy with us.”
“As a politician, you want people to elect you, to perform a responsibility. If you mean well for the country, the country is nobody’s personal estate but you want to serve. If people want you to serve, you serve and if they say ‘no’, you leave,”
“Nigeria is nobody’s personal estate, Nigeria is nobody’s business enterprise, Nigeria is nobody’s father’s, property, it belongs to all Nigerians.
“I get embarrassed when we the politicians, maybe including me make provocative statements, statements that create division among Nigerians; statements that can set this country ablaze. I don’t think that is what a leader should do, I don’t think that is the kind of seed a leader should sow.
“Take those who take government by violence. Look at African countries and those who kill to take power, they never end well. Few cases though, probably in society where everybody goes the same way.
“If a politician wants to take power whether at the house of assembly level, at the House of Representatives or senate or governor or president, you don’t sow seed of discord and enmity because of course, it will consume you.
“As a nation, we know that if anybody who has the privilege of being a governor of a state after serving, he becomes a senior citizen of that state, it is your duty to assist in-coming government.
“If you happen to serve as the head of government or as a president of this country, in fact, at the national level, we have the highest authority called the council of state, the permanent members of the council of state are past presidents and past Chief Justice of the country.
“The idea is that they have vast experience in a number of things and they can bring their experiences to bear in terms of advising any president at anytime, that was why that body was created by the constitution.
“But if we abuse ourselves, kill ourselves to be in office, then who will finish serving and still want to attend the council of state meeting for somebody who probably abuse you through life, it is not possible.”
Jonathan also used the occasion to personally reply comments by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will form a parallel government if the party loses the 2015 presidential election.
“For a politician to stand up, who is even a Christian to say that if he fails to win election, he will form a parallel government. What makes him feel that he must 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, or federal level, state assemblies or the National Assembly in terms of the federal constituencies and the senatorial districts.”
“It is not you who is looking for the office to think that you are the best person to be there. Are you the most qualified person even by certificate? Are you telling me your certificate is larger than that of others or you even have more certificate ? It is the chance of the people and the will of God.”
He called on the Christian community to continue to pray for God to forgive politcians their sins as the only way to move the nation forward.
“God should give us the wisdom to do what is right. All of us who by divine and the will of God are still holding sensitive offices, God should give us the wisdom and the courage to do what is right for our people.” Jonathan stated.
Stressing that Christmas is a special day, Jonathan urged all Christians to imbibe the value of love and peace that Christ epitomized; the value of tolerance, fairness, selflessness and for us to live in peace.
On security challenge, he said; “As a nation, we have our challenges, everyday we hear what is happening to some parts of the country, including Abuja, bombing by terrorists and extremists. These are temporary things, surely God will see us through. It will surely come to an end the way it started.”
“All what I request from you is to continue to pray for the country as you have been praying. Pray for the victims of terror, we have widows, widowers and orphans, some children are just few days old and their parents killed, so what is their fate, their communities shattered, people have to run to different places but that is the handiwork of the devil. As a nation we will pull through.”
Jonathan further thanked religious leaders and all Christians who constantly pray for the country, the first family and the government.
His words: “The challenges of the moment are enormous. But for your prayers, probably something else would have happened. God bless this country, even with the challenges, one would have expected the economy to collapse completely.
“Of course if that happens, people working with government and some of the people with private sector would not have been receiving salaries or anything. God is with us and inspite of what is happening, we are forging ahead and we will pull through.”
Delivering the sermon titled “The Jewish Messianic Expectations and 2015 Elections”, the Primate of the Anglican Church, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh urged politicians to work towards the peace and progress of the country.
Noting that the 2015 election would be a critical period in the life of the nation, he said Nigerians expect peace, freedom, security and general prosperity of the country.
He therefore urged all politicians to ensure that the expectations of the people were met as they seek elective positions in the 2015 elections.
The clergy also urged Nigerians not to play politics with the security situation in the country but to continue to pray for the country to overcome the problem.
The President was accompanied to the Church Service by the First Lady, Dame Patience; his mother, Madam Eunice, Ministers and other top government officials.
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