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.
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)
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