President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Nigerians to endure the effects of the current drop in global oil prices, saying the nation will survive it.
Mr. Jonathan, while speaking at the Christ Apostolic Church in Abuja on Sunday, said the oil price drop is nothing compared to 2008 to 2009 when oil was sold for $40 per barrel.
“Of course, if there is a drop in oil price, it will affect us in one way or the other. We tell our people to bear with us. It has happened before in 2008, 2009 that was almost about $40, we survived as a nation.
“This time, by all predictions, it will not even go as low as that, we will surely survive it. The economic team is working very hard to stabilise it and we believe that although there may be temporary inconveniences, it will definitely not bring the economy down” he said.
The President told the congregation that he decided to go round churches in Abuja to thank them for their prayers. He said even as the challenges facing the country increased during his tenure, Nigeria’s current woes would have been worse but for prayers.
“With the prayers you continue to offer to God, God will see us through” he said, adding that it was worse in the bible days.
The President said 2015 “is a tempting year for us” since election year in third world countries is always turbulent.
“All that I will request of you is to continue to pray for us politicians, myself and other politicians from all political parties, for God to guide us in our utterances and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of Nigerians because of our ambitions.
“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the country ablaze because of our own personal ambition.
“There are so many good Nigerians that can hold the offices we are occupying or aspiring to occupy, it is by privilege of God that we are here in positions to ask for the mandates of Nigerians.
“None of us should begin to think that he is the best person to be anywhere from state houses of assembly to the president. There are a thousand and one Nigerians that are super qualified more than those people who are even aspiring to occupy offices.
“The development of Nigeria is what all of us want. If every aspirant has the mind to develop the people, the. You do not need to kill or maim people to get there.
“You do not need to kill the people you want to develop in order to get to the office you want except if you are aspiring for that office for a different reason.
“If the idea is to help the people, grow the economy and make the people happy, you won’t want to kill, you won’t want to maim or burn down houses, vehicles and property.
“Human beings may see things differently but God can guide us, ” he added.
Mr. Jonathan said his administration is coming up with policies to move the country forward; and subtly campaigned for votes in the coming elections saying: “those who are taking pains to look at what we are doing will agree with us that if we progress as a nation steadily in this manner, in the next four or five years, this country will be a better place.”
The President admitted that the results of his “policies” are not obvious but said “God willing”, job opportunities will continue to increase and many more young people will be engaged.
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When the oil prize was much higher than the budget bunchmark and we were having windfall, what was the benefit to the people that you are asking us now to endure?
ReplyDeleteGood talk from a wise and prudent leader. God will continue to direct, guide and protect you to lead us rightly.
ReplyDeleteYour name is as stupid as your comment, what is good about what our president just said? That we should expect more pain than what we have been experience before, is like these don't really know what is going on in the society, anyway how will they know that some people are hungry when the budgeted billions for their own kitchen. Don't worry mr president our future is not in your hands is in God and GMB hands.
DeleteOh yes 90 percent Nigerians should endure hardship while 10 percent live in affluence. What a disparity and irony. Many people are fed up with constant excuses by Mr president. Nigerians have never had it good even in the peak of oil boom. Is there anytime that things are good for this country. As for 2015 it will be turbulent because PDP want to hang on power by all means. Third world leaders always think it is their right to be re elected and so must win election by every means. I think Nigerians should rise up to the occasion and show that they are not comfortable with mismanagement and underdevelopment.
ReplyDeleteSee Mumu, who is he leading. Leading u abi. The Mumuates!!!!!!😁😀😀
ReplyDeleteYou are talking nonsense, have we been enjoying? We have been suffering and enduring. Stop talking like we have been enjoying and drinking oil and now that the oil price has fallen we have to endure. We have been surviving without the good governance and the oil. With all the corruptions and impunity we have been surviving. Nigeria masses haven't seen the effects of the Nigerian oil and as well we don't know what you are talking about. And as well we will survive, we are alive by the grace of God nor because of Nigerian oil. Anybody that is supporting you is doing so out off sentiment, you have not delivered. People need to tell you the truth and leave sentimental politics. If they keep on supporting you like that you will never improve. You said you WERE ONCE WITHOUT SHOE, meaning that you knows our plight, now what's happening. You know very well that you cannot tell us again that you were once without shoe. You promised us BREATH OF FRESH AIR, now look at Nigeria and FRESH AIR. You promised what you cannot do that's why you're cry sabotage.
ReplyDeleteGood talk bro. He should also endure to give up the presidency in 2015
DeleteI don't like this man he irritates me
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that our president is a bad manager of both human and natural resources. We have one of the largest unemployed graduates in the world feeding on the meagre income of the parents while your ministers are wasting billions of naira on frivolity. The excess crude account meant to provide succour was wasted. When the going was good the president and his team were behaving like prodigal son but now that you need our votes you are asking us to endure. Mr. President the least we expect from you is an apology.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is confused for sure... he made a grave mistake abandoning the dude that brought him to power...he's now on his own, surrounded and held hostage by a brood of vipers...I don't envy him at all...poor dude
ReplyDelete' Endure hardship that comes with fallen oil price while we enjoy the excess crude oil windfall' - J tells Nigerians
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame! We were suppose to save for the rainy day but rather what was savee prio to this administration has been depleted. We should enrure he said, as if we knew any other way than enduring. Nigerians are patient people but i believe we aint fools. " Fool me once shame.on you, fool me twice shame on me"
ReplyDeleteWhat has now happened to external reserve? Gone with the wind. OBJ left us with huge external reserve but it has almost been exhausted by GEJ with nothing to show. The CBN will have to sink more money to save the Naira from further decline in January 2015 but the success will depend on increase in oil price. If the CBN has no more money to sink into the big hole to save Naira, we could face huge devaluation. Tighten your seat belt Nigerians as it is going to be a roller-coaster ride after New Year celebration.
ReplyDeleteNigerians must pray against total economic collapse after New Year celebration. God save Nigeria, amen.
Presidooo! Ask us to endure as if we have been enjoying, honestly why is that this man is so far away from reality? Is like he does not know what is going on. Okupe fool will not tell him the truth, don't worry Jona our future is not in your hands but in God almighty. GMB change we want not endurance.
ReplyDeleteDullest president in the world talking!
ReplyDeleteThis man needs to go! Only an illiterate would vote for Jonathan in 2015. Unfortunately most of our voters are illiterate and uninformed.
ReplyDelete