President warns politicians against negative statements

                                               President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday warned politicians who he said were planting seeds of discord with their utterances that their actions were capable of consuming them.

Jonathan, at a Christmas service held under tight security at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja, added that such politicians were   embarrassing those who meant well for the country.

He also took a swipe at former office holders who he said had formed the habit of abusing the incumbents and pointed out that those who seized power by force never ended well.

He said, “If politicians want to take over power at any level of government, they need not sow seed of discord because it will consume them.

“I believe that people who mean well for this country will never be happy with provocative utterances by some politicians.

“Nigeria is nobody’s personal estate; Nigeria is nobody’s business enterprise; Nigeria is not the property of anybody’s father. It belongs to all of us.

“I get embarrassed when politicians, maybe including me, make statements that create division among Nigerians or can set this country ablaze.

“I don’t think such statement is what a leader should make. I don’t think that is the kind of seed a leader should sow.

“Those who take government by violence; those who kill to take over power never end well, especially in Africa.”

He reminded former office holders who abuse, instead of advising the incumbents that the framers of the nation’s constitution did not make a mistake by setting up the Council of State.

The council, which comprises former Heads of State and former Chief Justices of Nigeria as permanent members,   advises the sitting President on issues of national importance.

The President wondered who would be willing to attend the council’s meetings after leaving office if people had to abuse and kill one another to be in office.

He said, “As a nation, we know that anybody who has the privilege of serving as a state governor becomes a senior citizen. It is his duty to assist the incumbent government.

“The idea behind the Council of State is that its permanent members have vast experience in a number of issues that they can bring to bear on governance.

“But if we abuse ourselves, kill ourselves to be in office, then who will finish serving and still want to attend the council’s meetings?

“For a politician to stand up and say he will form a parallel government if he fails to win an election is wrong. What makes him feel he will win the election?

“Even me, as a serving President, what makes me feel I must win the election? No matter what I think I am, Nigerians will decide who will govern them at the state level and federal level.”

He urged the congregation to continue to pray for God to forgive politicians because that was the only way to move the nation forward.

On the security challenges facing the country, Jonathan reiterated his belief that it would end the same way it started.

He said all that was required was for Nigerians to continue to pray for the country and victims of terror.

While painting a picture of displaced widows and orphans and shattered communities, the President said the situation would have been worse but for the prayers of the citizens, especially religious leaders.

He said unlike the Jewish people who wanted powerful kings with weapons, weapons cannot save Nigerians but prayers.

He said, “The bows, arrows and weapons cannot protect us and that reminds me about somebody like Gen.(Yakubu) Gowon that you know very well.

“Gowon was the head of government during the civil war. He fought with weapons but that did not bring peace to Nigeria. Yes, the civil war ended after three years, but there was still no peace.

“He had to abandon the rifle and picked the Bible. He goes across the country praying. Many of you are members of his group. That is the only message that can bring peace.”

The President noted that with the security challenges, one would have expected the nation’s economy to collapse completely.

This, he said, would have led to government’s inability to pay workers’ salaries.

“God is with us and in spite of what is happening, we are forging ahead and we will pull through. I re-assure you that we will continue to do more,” Jonathan said.

Earlier, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, in his sermon titled, “The Jewish messianic expectations and 2015 elections,” urged those seeking political offices to be aware that Nigerians had huge expectations from them.

He said, “Those who want to represent us must be aware of our expectations. We call on those who will come out to take note that Nigerians have messianic expectations. They must perform according to Messiah to the best of their ability.

“The expectations may be very high, but they must be ready to meet them. They cannot do it by their power. They can only do it by the spirit of God. They must be godly people to smite the challenges confronting us.

“The leaders and followers have their roles to play. No one individual can do it. We all must cooperate to do it.”

Okoh also urged Nigerians to choose only those who would meet their expectations as doing otherwise could mean more suffering for them.

“If we bring people who do not care, our condition will worsen and we will all die. God forbid,” he said.

The clergyman also enjoined all citizens to join hands with the government and security agencies in fighting the insurgency in parts of the country.

He regretted that the population of widows, widowers and orphans were multiplying daily because of the activities of Boko Haram.

He said it was important for all Nigerians to work together to bring an end to the scourge and the reproach it has brought upon the nation.

Okoh also stressed the need for those in government to stop playing politics with security matters, saying there will be no politics if there is no Nigeria.

He said, “We must join hands to fight insecurity so that our children will have a future. We must join hands to pursue the enemy out of our country. Whether they are from within or outside, we must fight them.”

The Old Testament reading for the service was taken by the President’s wife, Patience, from Isaiah 9:2,6 and 7 while the President read the Epistle from Hebrews 1:1-12.

The President’s mother, Eunice, top government officials, including ministers and other members of the Federal Executive Council attended the holy communion service.

Worshippers who trooped out in their hundreds were frisked at the main gate of the church premises and entrance of the church hall before being allowed in.

Security was provided by a combined team of men of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and policemen.

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