He said if citizens had confronted the challenges in the same manner they confronted the Ebola Virus Disease recently, they would have become things of the past.
Jonathan spoke at the 54th Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
Continue..
He spoke shortly after the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, had described most of the challenges facing the country as self-inflicted.
The President said if Nigerians remained united, there was no challenge they could not conquer.
He said the country was able to overcome Ebola within a short period because the Federal Government cooperated with the governments of Lagos and Rivers State where cases were reported despite the fact that the states belong to the opposition party.
He said Nigerians also became united and resolved to be more hygienic, hence the feat was achieved.
He said, “The only thing is to appeal to all of us Nigerians to be united. If we are united, there is nothing we cannot conquer. Take the case of Ebola and this is a good example that all Nigerians must learn.
“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 but the central government is the ruling party.
“From Lagos, Ebola moved to Rivers State and this is also an opposition party’s state. But because all Nigerians fought Ebola irrespective of political persuasion, irrespective of religion, or ethnicity, we defeated Ebola.
“We appealed to people to stop shaking hands, and as individuals, Nigerians became very hygienic. It was not just one person, or Mr. President or the Governors, or other officials, yes they did their work, but we defeated Ebola because all Nigerians agreed to fight the war against Ebola. That is the strength of unity.
“Some of the challenges we are having, whether kidnapping or the greatest problem we are having which is terror, is because all of us have not united to fight these challenges.”
Jonathan commended the security services, saying that Nigerians would have appreciated them more if they are aware of what they pass through, including sabotage.
He said what the armed forces needed were prayers and support from Nigerians to enable them to defeat the Boko Haram sect.
“What we require from our brothers and sisters is to encourage our military because it us not easy, when people are sleeping in their houses in the night, they are busy fighting. Bullets are not badminton rackets or something,” he added.
The President also urged politicians, especially those who are aspiring for public office to avoid destroying the country with their utterances.
Earlier in his sermon, Oritsejafor had described most of the challenges facing the country as self-inflicted.
He said although some troubles come the way of men without invitation like the case of the biblical Job, most of the problems in Nigeria were being inflicted on the nation by its citizens and their foreign collaborators.
Oritsejafor listed some of the nation’s problems that could be said to be self-inflicted to include corruption, terrorism, tribalism and nepotism.
Oritsejafor said, “There are also self-inflicted troubles. Most of Nigeria’s problems are self-inflicted. Corruption does not fall from heaven, it is self-inflicted.
“Corruption is by greed and the foundation of greed is poverty mentality and the thinking that what you have is not enough. You are always struggling to get more.
“Corruption is what we have done for ourself. There is corruption in high and low places. People don’t mind what happens to other people once they have what they want. There is corruption everywhere. We take and give bribe.”
The clergyman argued that extreme religious ideology as well as desperate politicians who want power by all means and not poverty not the cause of terrorism.
The first reading of the service with the theme “Be Still (Mark 4:39)” was read by Justice Walter Onoghen from 1 Samuel 30:1-19 while the President of the Senate, David Mark, read the second reading from Mark 4: 35-41.
Intercessory prayers were offered for the nation, the 2015 general elections, the President and other national leaders, the church as well for peace and development of the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment