Jonathan: There are plans to bring down my govt

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said
those behind the violence in the country were
planning to bring down his government.
Jonathan, at the 2014 Democracy Day
Interdenominational Church Service with the
theme “Love The Lord…and your Neighbour” in
Abuja, described them as evil forces.
Terror attacks by Boko Haram in some parts of
the North, especially the North-East, have led to
the death of thousands of people. On April 14,
2014, the sect abducted more than 200 girls
from a government college in Chibok, Borno
State, a development that brought global
attention to the terrorist activities in the country.
In Benue State, there have been clashes between
the Tiv and Fulani cattle rustlers that have led to
bloodshed. Six days ago, suicide bombers struck
in Jos, Plateau State, killing over 15o people and
on Saturday night another bomber visited
mayhem on football fans in the city.
During the service, Jonathan, who touched on
several national issues, said despite the security
challenges, Nigeria would continue to move
forward.
He said, “You can imagine if this government had
not been facing these distractions within this
period, definitely, we would have moved farther
than this.
“All these distractions are planned to bring this
government down and since they failed, terror
will also fail.
“We have been witnessing terror attacks for two
years plus, but the Chibok incident has added a
major dent on the security of the country. There
is nothing God cannot do. With your prayers, our
girls will be seen by our security personnel, “he
said.
“Terror will not stop this country from
progressing. We know that these terrorists are
human and they are evil men. Definitely, they are
among those we categorise as evil forces.
“Forces of evil will never prevail. Forces of
darkness will never prevail. I call on all Nigerians,
Christians and non-Christians who pray, to
continue to pray and I believe that God is on our
side. Forces of evil and darkness will never
prevail.”
Jonathan admitted that the April 14 abduction of
schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno
State was a major dent on the nation’s security.
The President also assured Nigerians that
despite the security challenges, elections would
hold next year as scheduled.
He explained that one of the beauties of
democracy which the nation has been practising
for 15 years was that every public office holder
knows the terminal date of his administration.
Jonathan said despite the problems associated
with democracy, it remained the best form of
government.
He however posited that four or even 10 years
were not enough to develop a nation because
nation-building is a continuous process.
The President also said that the revamping of
the rail sector, the privatisation of the power
sector, the housing sector, industrial
development, the remodeling of the airports and
the reforms in the agricultural sector among
others were clear signs that his transformation
promises were not mere political promises.
While pointing to the successful hosting of the
World Economic Forum for Africa, Jonathan said
Nigeria under his leadership would have gone
farther but for the challenges his government
was facing.
He recalled that some forces wanted to frustrate
the WEFA by detonating bombs in Nyanya, a
satellite town near Abuja.
Jonathan reiterated his position that if not for
prayers by Nigerians, the security challenges in
the country would have been worse.
He said, “After today, the next Democracy Day
will witness a new government.
“I remember when I was in my village to collect
my permanent voter card, a pressman asked me
if there would be elections in Nigeria and I told
him ‘yes.’
“This country will continue to move on in spite of
some of the setbacks we are witnessing.”
Quoting from the Holy Bible, the President said
nothing could separate Nigerians from the love of
God because forces of retrogression had always
remained part of human history.
He added, “In human history, either individuals
or societies, they are always confronted with two
forces- the forces of development and forces of
retrogression. They call the later evil forces.
“Our country is facing the challenges of some of
these forces, the evil forces. I really do not want
to celebrate them because surely, we will get
over them.
“You will agree with me that within these three
years of this government, our agenda for
transformation is coming out.
“We have not reached where we want to go but
there are certain signs that people will use to
know whether government is committed or is
deceiving.”
On national development, he said, “Definitely, we
cannot build a nation in three years. This
government is three years old. By May 29 next
year, we would have completed our four years.
“Four years, even 10 years are not enough.
Nation building is a continuous process. The
most important thing is to start very well and
continue to do things very well.”
Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme in his sermon taken
from Esther 4:13-17 assured Nigerians that a
new nation beckons.
Ekwueme likened the violence in some parts of
the county and other social ills to birth pains
that a woman undergoes before giving birth to a
child.
He said, “The present situation in the country is
just an indication of birth pains, we will go
through the storms and a new Nigeria of our
dreams and aspiration will soon be born.
“A Nigeria where there will be justice and equity
will evolve. A new Nigeria where corruption will
become exemption rather than the rule will
evolve; a county where every citizen will have a
sense of belonging will evolve.
“When a child is born, the mother forgets the
birth pains. So shall it be in Nigeria soon.
“Such a new Nigeria is about to emerge. It will
emerge in spite of the chaos and violence that is
presently ravaging our streets, in spite of the
naked image of the nation at the global stage, I
believe the new Nigeria will emerge.
“The noise will come to an end. Let the new
Nigeria evolve.”
Ekwueme said although this was a defining
moment in the history of the nation, it could also
be a period of great opportunity if perceived
right.
He said Nigerians must be ready to rise beyond
their ashes and move to the glory prepared for
them by God.
He said corruption, among other social ills, must
no longer be accepted as the rule but an
exemption to the rule in the country.
The first reading for the service was taken by a
representative of the judiciary from Genesis
11:1-6 while the President of the Senate, David
Mark took the second reading from Luke
10:25-37.
At the well-attended service, special prayers
were rendered for the successful search and
release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls by
three pupils selected from three schools in
Abuja.
Prayers were also offered for the victims and
families of recent bomb blasts by Boko Haram,
the nation’s security, peace and development, for
the President and his family, the three arms of
government as well as the church.
The service also featured praise and worship
sessions as well as special songs rendered by
the Christian Association of Nigeria Mass Choir,
the National Security and Civil Defence Corps
Band and pupils of some selected schools in
Abuja.
It was attended by the President’s wife,
Patience; his mother, Eunice; the Deputy
President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; the
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Emeka Ihedioha; and former Governor Peter Obi
of Anambra State.