ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – President Goodluck Jonathan has sought for the forgiveness of Nigerians whom he might have offended in the course of carrying out his assignment first as the number two citizen, then as the number one citizen in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking during a farewell service organised for the outgoing first family on Sunday, at the Aso Villa chapel, the President said no one is perfect and there is no way he would not have stepped on toes, noting that if he did it was not deliberate.
This is the last Sunday the first family will be officially worshipping at the Aso Rock Villa Chapel.
Jonathan, who said decisions taken in the course of duty was in the best interest of Nigerians, said it was not surprising that friends and associates would misunderstand, adding that it was situations like this that makes him fall in love with the third stanza of his favourite hymn,”Stand by Me”
Jonathan also used the occasion to thank all the Aso Rock Villa Chapel, management and administrative staff from the least of them to the most senior person, said he was appreciative of every of their contribution in building their spiritual lives.
”Let me express our appreciation to all those who have stood with us. We came in as Vice President and the wife, today we are leaving as the former president and former First Lady. All we have achieved is through you. Let me specifically thank the chaplain, the clergymen, the pastors and their wives.
“For the past eight years we have every reason to be thankful to God. Every individual has his/her own calling. I also believe that people who take over political leadership have their own callings to do specific things. No one, head of a government, be it at the national level or the sub- regional levels can do every thing. But when you leave you will want to leave something to show that yes I was here.
“I remember when I was deputy governor of Bayelsa State, when I took over as governor, I had in mind to link up Bayelsa with bridges. I said to myself that Bayelsa was more riverine than Rivers State and I decided that I was going to build two major bridges yearly but I never stayed to do that. Everybody has something to leave behind. The chaplain has said that nothing is perfect, if you wait for perfection, you cannot achieve anything.
“No system is perfect. Every human system must have an element of imperfection. For the period of eight years that we have been here. I look at the period as a block. Because my transition from VP to President was gradual and complicated. It was intertwined so you cannot actually draw the line. Because when the President was challenged within major health issues, I was running the country for sometimes even before the ‘doctrine of necessity’ made me acting president. Then I took over at first and conducting the 2011 election I won and I had to run my full four years as an elected president.
“So for the eight years that one has been there, definitely one is not perfect. We have certainly done things that probably we wouldn’t have done that way, but we didn’t do things deliberately. So for those whom we have offended it was not deliberate, it was circumstances of the office. So we also plead that those people should forgive, we think we have done our best.
“You can do your best and your friends may misunderstand you. Today we are talking about leaving. It is only God that knows why things go the way they do. Ordinarily May 24th would haven been the last Service here. But that 24th, we will all go to the National Christian Centre for the inauguration service. So for me and my wife, this is our last day of worship here. The congregation will continue until new government takes over,” he said .
Continuing Jonathan said, “Though we are leaving as president and First Lady, but we have not left you, because we are still in this country, we will continue to interact one way or the other, probably along the line we may even come closer. I believe some of you may even come closer, and we will do more meaningful things together when we leave office. The office is quite challenging, some of you may desire to see us, I believe as we move forward, things will get better. I don’t really believe that it is only in government that you can do things, even outside government you do a lot of things. The richest people in the world don’t even serve in government. (Aliko) Dangote has never been in government, so you don’t need to be in government to be rich. Bill Gates has not been in government. So outside government a lot of things happen, it is for us to be committed and continue to be focused. My wife and I are really love all of you”.
Earlier in his short sermon titled, “To Him Be The Glory”, the Aso Villa Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, quoting a number of scriptures from the Bible, also pleaded for forgiveness if in the cause of his assignment in the Villa they have done things wrong.
”I have found in first family a wonderful friend, a brother and sister and we will continue even after they leave office.
“We are not perfect in our service in Aso Villa but we ask for forgive us if we have erred”.
“We are not competent but our competence comes from God”, he said.
Onwuzurumba continuing said “For the past eight years I found a man who is a unique leader, unassuming, willing to learn especially in the things of God. Willing to condescend. It was easier to cushion my experience and he gave me the opportunity to express myself fully. I have no regrets serving him”.
There was special presentation by the children of Aso Villa Chapel comprising rendition of memory verses and drama sketch stressing the importance of love.
Another presentation by the workers of the Aso Villa Children department was also made to the first family.
The Pastoral prayers started with thanksgiving for what God has done for each and every individual. For the Jonathan’s administration and what they have been able to do which include roads, new universities, railways, economy, agric sector, SURE-P, YOUWIN etc, for the civil service and peace in the land despite the turbulence.
They also thanked God that Boko Haram has finally been defeated, adding that though they brought a lot of sorrow but God is giving them the last deal. They also thanked God for opportunity given to women to serve in Jonathan’s administration, for the fact that democracy has come to stay, for credible elections, for the Villa Chapel which has remained an altar for prayers and peace and, that Nigeria is still united despite the prediction of the West that the country would disintegrate by 2015.
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Prayer was also said for the incoming administration that they will continue to honour God in the altar.
Another presentation was made by the chairperson of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Deaconness Joan Ayo.
She said, “It is not an easy thing to say goodbye. But because we meet to part and we part to meet is one of those things, life goes on. Thank you Mr. President for who you are and what you have been to all of us. We have received immensely from you. We have seen your humility and patience, the two of them have matched each other.
“The way forward is God and we are persuaded that God will lead you on as you journey on and may God be with you, grant you success and fulfil your destiny because your best is yet to come”.
A giant picture of Jonathan playing the guitar during father’s day celebration was also presented to him; another picture to Mrs. Jonathan while reading one of the lessons in one of the services in church was also presented.
Another one of the two of them the president playing the guitar and the First Lady singing was also presented to the first family and the last one was that of the president’s mother, Mrs. Eunice Jonathan with Ven. Onwuzurumba.
Special choir rendition to Mr. President of his favourite song “Stand by me”.
Meanwhile the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was absent at the farewell service which would have seen the President officially handing over the chapel to him.
However, speaking to newsmen after the Sunday service, the Aso Rock Chaplain, Obioma Onwuzurumba said the Vice President elect, had been duly invited but was unfortunately absent but sent a representative in his stead.
He said the Aso Villa Chapel would be handed over at a later date.
Obasanjo had handed over the chapel to Jonathan in 2007.
