Jonathan assures on rebirth of Nigeria as giant of Africa

President Goodluck Jonathan has
again justified the emergency rule and
ongoing military onslaught against
insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states and that his administration would
champion the rebirth of Nigeria as the
giant of Africa.
He said that the Federal Government
could no longer watch innocent
Nigerians being attacked by members of
the Boko Haram sect, adding that the
decision was spurred by the desire to
restore peace to the affected areas.
Jonathan said
this in Abuja on
Sunday at a
church service
organised as
part of the
activities lined
up to mark the
2013
Democracy Day.
The President,
who was
represented by
Senate President David Mark, said that
the Federal Government would do more
to ensure total peace, not just in the
North, but in the entire country.
In the speech read by Mark, Jonathan
reaffirmed the Federal Government's
commitment to protecting the lives and
property of all Nigerians wherever they
lived.
"Our country is going through trying
times, especially in parts of the North,
where insurgents have made life
unbearable for innocent citizens.
"No responsible government will fold its
arms and watch criminals destroy what
some people have spent their entire
lives to build.
"I want to assure all Nigerians that this
administration will live up to its
responsibility; we will restore sanity to
the streets of Borno and other parts of
the North-East,'' he said.
Jonathan, however, urged Nigerians not
to relent in the fight against criminals in
the country, stressing that criminals,
under whatever guise, must not be
allowed to succeed in their activities.
He also pledged that his administration
would not relent in its fight against
corruption and other vices in the
society.
Besides, Jonathan assured the citizens
that his administration would champion
the rebirth of Nigeria as the giant of
Africa, noting that the government was
already making progress in some
sectors of the economy.
Earlier, in his sermon, Pastor Gabriel
Olutola underscored the need for
Nigerians, especially those in leadership
positions, to uphold the virtue of
righteousness.
Olutola, who spoke on "Righteousness
exalts a nation'', said that the fortunes of
Nigeria would be better if the citizens
followed the ways of God, as enunciated
in the holy book.
He stressed that the country's leaders
must eschew corruption and greed,
while the followers should support them
with prayers.
Olutola said that most of the challenges
confronting the nation could be tackled
if the country's leaders and their
followers learned to trust one another.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan, read the first bible
lesson while the senate president took
the second reading.
Special prayers for Nigeria were offered
by clerics from different denominations.
The Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, Chief of
Staff to the President, Mr Mike
Oghiadome, service chiefs, ministers and
other top government functionaries
attended the service. (NAN)