Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said
that terrorism and kidnapping were still major
national challenges because Nigerians had not united
against them as they did against the Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD).
Jonathan made the statement at an inter-
denominational church service at the National
Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, to mark the country’s 54th
Independence Anniversary coming up on
Wednesday.
He
said
the
country was able to fight and defeat the deadly Ebola
disease because Nigerians united against the virus
irrespective of political persuasion, religion or ethnic
origin.
The president appealed for unity among Nigerians,
noting that there was no problem or challenge that
could withstand the force of a united Nigeria.
“Take the case of Ebola for example; this is a good
example all Nigerians must learn from.
“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 state
but the central government is the ruling party.
“From Lagos Ebola moved to Rivers State, also
opposition party state.
“But because all Nigerians fought Ebola irrespective
of political persuasion, irrespective of religion,
irrespective of ethnicity, as individuals we defeated
the disease,’’ he said.
Jonathan commended the military and other security
services for the successes they had recorded in the
counter-insurgency operations despite internal
sabotage.
He noted that what the security agencies needed was
the support and encouragement of all Nigerians to
rid the country of terrorists and other enemies of the
Nigerian state.
The president frowned at inflammatory statements
and utterances of some politicians and called for
restraint in the interest the country.
“We will not require people to come from heaven or
other countries to solve our problems. What we
require from our brothers and sisters is to
encourage our military because it is not easy.
“When people are sleeping in their houses at night,
they are busy fighting. Bullets are not badminton
rackets or something.
“When I listen to some statements made by some
people who call themselves leaders, I feel sad for the
country.
“We must believe that we do not have any other
country outside of Nigeria,’’ he said.
In his sermon, the President, Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, said that most
of the challenges confronting the country were self-
inflicted.
He noted that corruption and terrorism, which he
described as `the greatest’ problems facing the
country were created by greedy politicians and
extreme religious ideologists.
According to him, corruption is fed by greed, which
in turn is rooted in poverty mentality.
He defined poverty mentality as the thinking that
what one had was not enough.
Oristejafor differed with the school of thought that
terrorism was caused by poverty.
According to him, terrorism is caused by extreme
religious ideology.
The CAN president, who based his message on Mark
4:35 to 41, said that Nigeria was a boat built by God
that could never sink.
He said that as Jesus calmed the storm that
threatened the boat conveying Him and His disciples
across Lake Galilee, God would take the country
through its current challenges and restore peace to
the land.
Oristejafor warned trouble-makers to either repent
and retrace their steps or be ready to face God’s
judgment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hon.
Justice Walter Onoghen, took the First Reading drawn
from 1 Samuel 30:1-19.
The Second Reading, taken from Mark 4:34-41, was
taken by the President of the Senate, David Mark.
Other dignitaries who attended the service included
the First Lady Patience Jonathan; the president’s
mother, Mrs Eunice Jonathan and former military
Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of the Interim National
Government; top federal government functionaries,
Service Chiefs, state governors, members of the
clergy, among others, also attended the service.
(NAN)
Source www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/listen-statements-feel-sad-nigeria-jonathan/

birds of d same feather flocks together. .... story for d gods

This ones na Men of God or God of Men ..... God is watching .

Boko Haram President and Boko Pastor. Why didn't the Boko General deliver his own sermon?