Jonathan promises better electoral process

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in
Jerusalem promised to stabilise Nigeria’s
electoral process.
Jonathan, who made the promise at an
interdenominational service for 2013 Nigerian
pilgrims, said the process is better now than
previously.
“We promise that we must do a number of
things differently. We have challenges in our
electoral system, but at least it is better than
what it was yesterday,” he said, adding: “Let
me reassure you that even though our nation is
passing through challenges this period, God
has made it possible for us to pray at a period
like this.’’
The President decried the high level of
vandalism of petroleum pipelines and electric
poles by criminals in the country.
The President said his administration would
continue to improve the living condition of
Nigerians.
He enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray for
the country, saying that evil forces would never
succeed in their evil ways.
“I assure you that things will continue to
improve for the better as Nigeria will no longer
be the same.”
He expressed gratitude for the Yitshak Rabin
Family Award for Good Leadership conferred on
him and for the naming of the Yitshak Rabin
School in Port Harcourt after him.
Jonathan said Nigeria and the state of Israel
would continue to be friends.
Mr John-Kennedy Okpara, Executive Secretary
of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission,
said over 30,000 Nigerian pilgrims were
transported to the Holy land annually,
compared to 4,000 pilgrims transported five
years ago.
He advised pilgrims to see pilgrimage as a time
for spiritual rebirth and a divine encounter with
God.
The high point of the occasion was the
decoration of Jonathan with the JP title and the
conferment of the Yitshak Rabin Award for Good
Leadership Award on him.
Other dignitaries, who were decorated with the
JP title, include Governors Gabriel Suswam
(Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Liyel
Imoke (Cross River) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).
On Saturday in Nazareth, the President
performed the symbolic candle lighting at the
Church of Mount Camel, the place where the
Biblical contest between Prophet Elijah and the
400 false prophets of Baal took place.
The President also visited River Jordan, the
place where Jesus Christ was baptised by John
the Baptist. He prayed before dipping his hands
seven times into the river.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
the President and members of the Presidential
Pilgrimage Team also visited the Church of
Annunciation, otherwise known as Basillica of
the Annunciation, the place where Angel Gabriel
broke to Virgin Mary the news of her
conception.
Other places visited by the team were the Holy
Family Church in Nazareth and the Cana
Wedding Church in Galilee. They took a boat
drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and
visited the Mount of Beatitudes.
President Jonathan had on the second day of
the pilgrimage visited the Jerusalem Old City,
Pool of Bethesda, Wailing Wall, where he prayed
privately, the Tomb of Jesus Christ where he
also prayed after leading the Fourteen Stations
of the Cross.