Jonathan 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 paying. Pray for the victims of terror, we have widows, widowers and orphans, some children are just few days old and their parents have been 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.
“I thank our religious leaders, Christian leaders and all Christians who constantly pray for this country, especially for me and my family and the government for us to go through. The challenges of the moment 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 and of course if that happens, people working with government and some of the people with the 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.
“I re-assure you that we will continue to do more. 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.
“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, if they say no, you leave,
“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.
“Those who take government by violence, look at African countries, those who kill to take power, they never end well, few cases, yes, probably in society not everybody goes the same way but on the average one has recently happened in west Africa.
“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”, he warned.
“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 temporary members are the President, Vice President, the governors, the minister of FCT because they are appointed. 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.
“For a politician to stand up, who is even a Christian to say that if he fails 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 for 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 bigger than those of others or you even have more certificates? It is the choice of the people and the will of God.
“So let me use this opportunity to plead with you to continue to pray for us that God should forgive us our sins and that is the only way to move this nation forward. God should give us the wisdom to do what is right.
“All of us who by 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”, he said.
He said the challenges facing the country could have been worse but for the fervent and consistent prayers of Nigerians.
The President while admitting that the country was currently facing both security and economic challenges he assured that there were but only temporary and that God would surely see the nation through them.
He urged Christians to continue to imbibe the virtues of peace, love, selflessness and tolerance which Christ epitomise.
In a sermon titled “The Jewish Messianic Expectations and 2015 Elections”, the Primate of the Anglican Church, the Most Revd Nicholas Okoh, said the 2015 elections were a critical period in the country.
He reminded political office seekers at all levels that Nigerians have expectations, which border on peace, freedom, security and general prosperity.
He, therefore, urged both serving and incoming leaders at all levels and arms of government to be guided by the people’s expectations in their decisions.
Okoh also advised the citizens to base their voting decisions on the communion good, noting that if they elect people that don’t care, their conditions would worsen.
On the security challenges facing the country, the Cleric emphasised the need for Nigerians pray and work together to put “an end to the reproach”.
“We need to stop viewing security issues as politics. It is everyone’s duty to join in the fight against terrorists and rescue our nation.”
