President Goodluck Jonathan on
Sunday said that terrorism and kidnapping were still major national challenges
because Nigerians had not united against them as they did against the Ebola
Virus Disease (EVD).
Jonathan made the statement at an
inter-denominational church service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja,
to mark the country’s 54th Independence Anniversary coming up on Wednesday.
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| President Goodluck Jonathan speaking at the 54th Independence |
Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service at the National Christian Center, Abuja On Sunday (29/9/14)
He said the country was able to
fight and defeat the deadly Ebola disease because Nigerians united against the
virus irrespective of political persuasion, religion or ethnic origin.
The president appealed for unity
among Nigerians, noting that there was no problem or challenge that could
withstand the force of a united Nigeria.
“Take the case of Ebola for example;
this is a good example all Nigerians must learn from.
“When Patrick Sawyer brought Ebola
to Nigeria, it was in Lagos that this incidence happened and in terms of
politics, Lagos is an opposition party state but the central government is the
ruling party.
“From Lagos Ebola moved to Rivers
State, also opposition party state.
“But because all Nigerians fought
Ebola irrespective of political persuasion, irrespective of religion,
irrespective of ethnicity, as individuals we defeated the disease,’’ he said.
Jonathan commended the military and
other security services for the successes they had recorded in the
counter-insurgency operations despite internal sabotage.
He noted that what the security
agencies needed was the support and encouragement of all Nigerians to rid the
country of terrorists and other enemies of the Nigerian state.
The president frowned at
inflammatory statements and utterances of some politicians and called for
restraint in the interest the country.
“We will not require people to come
from heaven or other countries to solve our problems. What we require from our
brothers and sisters is to encourage our military because it is not easy.
“When people are sleeping in their
houses at night, they are busy fighting. Bullets are not badminton rackets or
something.
“When I listen to some statements
made by some people who call themselves leaders, I feel sad for the country.
“We must believe that we do not have
any other country outside of Nigeria,’’ he said.
In his sermon, the President,
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, said that most
of the challenges confronting the country were self-inflicted.
He noted that corruption and
terrorism, which he described as `the greatest’ problems facing the country were
created by greedy politicians and extreme religious ideologists.
According to him, corruption is fed
by greed, which in turn is rooted in poverty mentality.
He defined poverty mentality as the
thinking that what one had was not enough.
Oristejafor differed with the school
of thought that terrorism was caused by poverty.
According to him, terrorism is
caused by extreme religious ideology.
The CAN president, who based his
message on Mark 4:35 to 41, said that Nigeria was a boat built by God that
could never sink.
He said that as Jesus calmed the
storm that threatened the boat conveying Him and His disciples across Lake
Galilee, God would take the country through its current challenges and restore
peace to the land.
Oristejafor warned trouble-makers to
either repent and retrace their steps or be ready to face God’s judgment.
Hon. Justice Walter Onoghen, took
the First Reading drawn from 1 Samuel 30:1-19.
The Second Reading, taken from Mark
4:34-41, was taken by the President of the Senate, David Mark.
Other dignitaries who attended the
service included the First Lady Patience Jonathan; the president’s mother, Mrs
Eunice Jonathan and former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of the
Interim National Government; top federal government functionaries, Service
Chiefs, state governors, members of the clergy, among others, also attended the
service. (NAN)
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