Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan has said the country can overcome all its present challenges and regain its rightful place in the comity of nations as a strong, united and prosperous country if only they would shun hopelessness and continue to have faith in their collective ability.
In his Easter message to the nation, the president said Nigerians were a people of great faith and the vast majority of the people were adherents of the world’s major faith-based religions.
Greeting Nigerians on the 2012 Easter celebrations, Jonathan who spoke through presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati said: “For our Christian brothers and sisters, the significance of Easter which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ lies in its promise to the faithful of ultimate triumph over all challenges and adversity.
“My message to the nation therefore, as we celebrate one of Christianity’s most holy days, is that we should continue to have faith in our collective ability to overcome all present challenges and take our rightful place in the comity of nations as a strong, united and prosperous country.
“As people of faith, we must never succumb to hopelessness and despair. We must rekindle and retain deep faith in our shared vision of greatness, and continuously renew our determination to achieve our immense potentials through total commitment and dedication to the fulfilment of our national aspirations.
“I fervently believe that as the resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies the triumph of light over darkness, Nigeria will overcome its developmental challenges in the shortest time possible if we all resolve to set aside our differences, work together as one people, and foster peace, harmony and security in our country as requisite conditions for steady socio-economic growth and development.”
Jonathan further assured of his administration’s resolve to continue to give dynamic, purposeful and effective leadership towards the attainment of the country’s goal of faster national progress and development, saying: “We shall continue to put the greatest effort into achieving a positive transformation in the lives of our people with the effective implementation of our agenda for national transformation.
“I shall continue to count on your support, cooperation and prayers for the progress and well-being of our dear nation. Happy Easter celebrations”.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan yesterday implored the government of Malawi to make appropriate arrangement to ensure an orderly transfer of power following the death of its president, Bingu Wa Mutharika, ahead of that country’s next presidential elections scheduled to hold in 2014.
In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Abati, Jonathan noted that he received news of the sudden death of President Mutharika of Malawi with sadness, praying God for the peaceful repose of the late Mutharika’s soul.
In the statement made available to journalist, Abati stated: “He (Jonathan) urges the political leadership of Malawi and its security agencies to ensure an orderly transfer of presidential powers in keeping with Malawi’s existing constitutional order ahead of the country’s next presidential elections scheduled to hold in 2014.
“On behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to late President Bingu Wa Mutharika’s family as well as the government and people of Malawi.
“The President assures the people of Malawi of the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria and Africa as they mourn the late President Bingu Wa Mutharika who was also Chairperson of the African Union from January, 2010 to January 2011.”


http://afrikandevelopment.net/shun-hopelessness-jonathan-tells-nigerians-p111-90.htm

Jonadunce = hopelessness.

Oloshi!