I Will Work For Common Good – Jonathan

Posted by admin Latest Politics Sunday, May 29th, 2011

AS he steps into office today for a fresh four year term, Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to ensure good governance as an obligation he owes Nigerians. This he said would atone for the loss of lives and property in the post-election crisis, which followed his overwhelming victory in the April presidential election.

The president made the pledge during a thanksgiving service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, as part of activities for his inauguration today for a fresh term in office.

He said: “We and the government I would lead owe Nigerians good governance based on the fear of God. That is the only thing we can do to atone for the great loss this country witnessed.

I, therefore, appeal to our religious leaders to continue to pray for us because no matter how committed you are as an individual, if God does not touch all of us, who are to run the affairs of the country, then we cannot go anywhere.”

As if in response, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, urged government officials to fight corruption “if we must have any testimony in the next four years.”

He also appealed to leaders, at all levels of governance, to work sacrificially if they wanted the citizens to believe and follow them.

The long and well-attended thanksgiving service, which heralded today’s grand finale for the inauguration ceremonies, caused traffic snarl for residents of the Garki Area and other road users. It began by 4pm.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; Service Chiefs and chief executives of all agencies of government attended the ceremony.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Senate President David Mark were present at the service.

The paramilitary services chief executives, including the FRSC, were unusually in their full regalia at the service.

Most of the members of the outgoing cabinet, and Christian leaders across the country were in attendance, with Pastor Oritsejafor preaching the sermon, after President Jonathan had read the passage.

The president said his election was in answer to the prayers some of which were said at the venue of the thanksgiving before the election.

According to him: “We were here in this centre last year, September, to place our supplication before the Almighty God. Most of you here today were there that day. I thank God we are here today to thank God for answering our prayers.”

President Jonathan noted that the elections had solidified democracy in the country, hopeful that the country was already on its way to transformation.

“That everything is working is a clear indication that transformation has started,” he said. “Let us use this opportunity to ask ourselves what we should do as individuals, as Nigerians for this transformation to be consolidated.

“I believe one thing is for us to reflect on our value system, the fear of God, respect for our elders, respect for our clergymen and women, hard work, honesty and to love our neighbours. With love, peace and unity, Nigeria’s greatness is assured,” he declared.

Jonathan was confident that the country was up for great things, as it prepares for its centenary celebrations stating:

“I believe this decade is Nigeria’s decade; it’s a decade we celebrate our glorious Jubilee; 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s Stock Exchange; we recorded free, fair and credible elections; it’s the decade the Lord has made,” he said.

In the homily, Pastor Oritsejafor said the people could accept alibi for (government’s) inability to pay the new national minimum wage of N18,000 “only if the leaders can show that they, too, are making sacrifices in other spheres of governance….”

Constant aerial surveillance was noticed yesterday in addition to the many roads that were blocked to the Eagle Square, including all the roads leading to the National Mosque and National Christian Centre.

The traffic bottlenecks in Abuja may not ease off until after today’s ceremonies are declared closed.

In the interim, there was an isolated scant report about an unprovoked attack on some Mexican diplomats by a mob in front of their residence yesterday.wp_posts