Abuja - 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.
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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