I don’t need to be a dictator to rule Nigeria -Jonathan

Posted by admin Latest Politics Sunday, September 25th, 2011

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has responded to critics who think that he lacks the necessary will power to decisively tackle the various challenges facing his administration, saying that he does not need to be a dictator to change the fortunes of the country.

Speaking on Sunday, in Abuja, at an interdenominational service ahead of the country’s 51st Independence Anniversary, he assured Nigerians of his commitment to move the nation forward without necessarily becoming a brutal dictator.

Jonathan, who observed that God chose him to lead Nigeria and turn the fortunes of the country around despite his weaknesses, noted that he might not be a military general, an autocratic king or a lion as some people might expect, but said that he would lead the country to greater heights.

According to him, “it is because of your prayers that we are seeing what we are seeing today. You have been praying for us; some others do not want the government to move an inch, I mean those of us who are politicians.

“If you listen to some of the things people say or write in papers, some people would want the president to be a lion; some people would want the president to be a troop commander who would crush everybody on sight. Unfortunately, I am not a troop commander. I am not an Army General.

“Some would want the president to be like David or other warriors in the Bible. Unfortunately, I am not one of those.

“The only prayer I need from you is for God to use me to change this country.”

Jonathan added: “I don’t need to be like Nebuchadnezzar, David or other great men to change this country, but with your prayers, I can change this nation; we can make the difference. Someone had written in the papers: is Nigeria on auto pilot? I tell them that Nigeria is not on auto pilot; God is in-charge and God will take us to the destination He has destined for us.”

Jonathan said he would not have spoken at the service but changed his mind because of the barrage of criticisms his administration suffers in the country against its praise by the international community.

According to him, “some Nigerians chose to vilify us” when world leaders like President Barak Obama of the United States and Jacob Zuma of South Africa had hailed him for his efforts so far.

“Obama, when he spoke at the United Nations General Assembly and on several occasions, commended Nigeria. But back home here, we are being abused. When we had the Security Council, when they spoke, they commended Nigeria. When others spoke, they commended Nigeria. What I can assure you is that God is at work and we shall get to our destination,” he declared.

The president was full of praises for Nigerians for their fervent prayers for his administration, saying that such prayers had kept his administration in the right direction.

However, he warned that the road ahead would be rough, saying, “it is not going to be easy, but with God using you and me, we will get to where we want to be.”

In his anniversary sermon, former Head of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA, Reverend Turaki Yusuf, lamented that the problem of the country was caused by “destructive ideological religion, insincerity, ethnocentricism and primordialism.”

He added: “Religion has become ideology and they kill in the name of ideological religion; we worship ethnic group, regionalism and tribalism at the expense of our national development.”

Furthermore, he accused past leaders of not laying sound foundation for national growth but noted, however, that there was hope for Nigeria since good always overcame evil.

“With faith, love and hope, we will conquer. God is sovereign above all and since Christ overcomes, we will overcome all evil,” he said.

The president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who led the prayers, pointed out that “there are several Goliaths. They would want to frustrate us, but surely, we shall triumph.”

He said: “All the Goliaths that are stumbling blocks to the progress of this nation, God will expose their foreheads for the stone of David.”

Prayers were offered by different Christian leaders on the occasion for the growth and progress of the country.

-Vanguardwp_posts