By Ben Agande & Tina Akannam
ABUJA — IN clear terms, President Goodluck Jonathan,
yesterday, previewed 2015 politically and economically and
returned a grim verdict: It may be a turbulent year and there
is need for Nigerians to pray.
Speaking at the Christ Apostolic Church, Area I, Durumi,
Abuja where he joined other worshippers for the last
Sunday service of the year, President Jonathan specifically
enjoined religious leaders to pray to God to guide him and
other politicians in the country aright so that they will not set
the country ablaze through their utterances.
On the drop in the price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main foreign
revenue earner, Jonathan admitted that the trend will “affect
us in one way or the other” but promised that “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.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate
reiterated that the ambition of anybody in the country was
not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
The president spoke on a day Governor Sule Lamido of
Jigawa State urged him and Major-General Muhammadu
Buhari (retd), the All Progressives Congress (APC)
presidential standard bearer, to sign a peace accord for the
forthcoming general elections.
A tempting year
According to the president, for every office in the country,
there are a thousand and one Nigerians who are qualified to
occupy such office, so no politician should think that he is the
only qualified person for the office.
His words: “Next year is a tempting year for us. Election
year in Third World countries is always a turbulent year with
all kinds of predictions. I, however, believe that God who
brought us to this level will see us through.
“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 personal ambitions.
“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
Presidency. There are a thousand and one Nigerians that
are super qualified more than those people who are even
aspiring to occupy offices.
FROM LEFT CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT, BRIG-
GEN JONES AROGBOFA (RTD) PASTOR MSHELLAOF ASO
VILLA CHAPEL; MOTHER OF THE PRESIDENT, MRS EUNICE
JONATHAN AND PRESIDENT GOODLYUCK JONATHAN AT A
SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE AT CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
AREA 1 UABUJA (28/12/14)
“Pray for us that God should give us the wisdom to conduct
ourselves in a manner that at the end of the day, this
country will triumph.”
Essence of leadership
Emphasising that the essence of leadership is to serve the
country and its people, Jonathan said any person seeking to
lead would not encourage the killing of people he seeks to
lead or the destruction of their property.
He said: “The development of Nigeria is what all of us want.
If every aspirant has the mind to develop the people, then
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.”
Nigeria’s challenges
Acknowledging that the country is under going a lot of
challenges, the president hoped that the country would
overcome the challenges.
“We are facing a lot of challenges now as a nation. The
challenges did not start today but somehow, instead of
abating, the problems started increasing for one reason or
the other. But I am convinced that it would have been worse
than this but for your prayers. With the prayers you
continue to offer to God, God will see us through,” he said.
Jonathan also acknowledged that Nigeria, as a nation, had
not reached where it ought to be, saying his administration
had put in place policy measures that will begin to bear fruits
in the next four or five years and change the face of the
country.
He said: “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.
“Only a few days back, the Vice President was in Port
Harcourt to flag off the Eastern railway. The Western one
moving from Lagos to Kano has been running. We will start
using the modern one from Kaduna to Abuja by the first
quarter of next year and the one from Port Harcourt.
“We relied on agriculture before the oil boom or doom and
all that died. We are reviving it and the whole world has
appreciated that we are moving forward in agriculture. When
they start something, people do not see the benefits
immediately. We know that as a nation, we have a lot of
challenges in terms of getting jobs for our young graduates
and we have set up a lot of programmes that can create job
opportunities for our young men. The result may not be
obvious immediately but God willing, job opportunities will
continue to increase and many more young people will be
engaged.”
We’ll work hard to make polls violence-free — APC
However, the APC has assured Nigerians and the
international community that it will do all in its power to make
sure that the 2015 general elections are violence-free, saying
the rising apprehension about the polls among the populace
is inimical to the conduct of a successful election.
In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National
Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said its
efforts should be complemented by the PDP-led Federal
Government, which has a propensity for using the security
agencies to harass and intimidate the opposition and
ordinary citizens.
It also said the Federal Government should take necessary
measures to ensure that the elections are free, fair and
credible, since rigging and other acts of electoral malfeasance
constitute the immediate trigger for anger and violence during
and after elections.
It said: ”We have heard from Nigerians who are so afraid
about possible violence during the forthcoming elections that
they are even willing to relocate to other countries until after
the elections. But, as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria
and a major stakeholder in our nation’s democracy, we are
assuring, on our part, that there will be no violence.
”Though our party has no history of violence, we have
commenced a nationwide effort to sensitise our members
and supporters to the need to eschew rancour and embrace
non-violent methods, even in the face of the kind of
provocations to which we were subjected during the Ekiti
and Osun governorship elections, when our members were
needlessly harassed, arrested and detained by partisan
security agencies acting under orders from the Federal
Government.
”If the Federal Government allows a level playing field for all
contestants, if the security agencies stop acting as the
armed wing of the ruling PDP, if the electoral umpire will
carry out its duties without fear, favour or bias and if
citizens are allowed to exercise their franchise unmolested,
the stage will be set for a non-violent, free, fair and credible
polls. In other words, the government has a major role to
play in making the forthcoming polls peaceful.
”On our part, in addition to other efforts aimed at ensuring a
peaceful election, we pledge to accept the result of an
election that is not only free, fair, credible and transparent,
but one that is also seen to be so. We hope other parties will
make a similar pledge.”
The party said it demonstrated, during its recent rancour-
free and festive national convention in Lagos, that elections
should be a celebration of democracy, rather than a moment
of fear, violence and threat to lives.
It said far from mere rhetoric, it had taken practical steps, as
far back as May 2014, to work with the PDP to ensure
violence-free polls in 2015.
APC said: ”Following up on a meeting of representatives of
both parties in Washington, DC, US, April 7-8 2014 under the
auspices of the CSIS Nigeria Election Forum, at which it was
agreed that a joint meeting of both parties be convened to
discuss and agree on the crucial issue of a Code of Conduct
for the campaigns and the elections, we wrote a letter to the
PDP suggesting a bipartisan meeting to address the issue.
”The PDP agreed to the proposal and suggested that it
should be expanded to include the leadership of other political
parties in the country. However, problem with logistics
meant that the meeting did not hold.
”Even with the little time left for the election to hold, we
strongly believe that a meeting of the leadership of the two
political parties, the APC and the PDP, will send a powerful
message to our compatriots and indeed the international
community and douse the tension that is building up ahead
of the election.”
Jonathan, Buhari should sign peace accord — Lamido
In like manner, Governor Lamido advised Jonathan and
Buhari to sign a peace pact on 2015 election.
The governor made the clarion appeal in Dutse, weekend,
while formally launching campaigns for all PDP aspirants of
the state at Aminu Kano Triangle.
Stressing that Nigerians are over-stretched and should not
be victims of political violence again, Lamido said the two
candidates should sign that in case anyone of them lost 2015
general election, his followers will not throw the country into
anarchy and should anyone fail to keep the pact, he will be
liable on conviction.
His words: “Nigeria and Nigerians are over-stretched and
tired of political crisis, they are saying they can no longer
tolerate any political unrest because of the interest of two
persons. I want General Buhari (retd) and President Jonathan
to commit themselves in writing in case there is crisis in any
part of the country after the presidential elections.”
Lamido said the 2007 post-election crises which claimed
many lives and property should serve as a lesson.
On Clark, Dokubo Asari
The governor further expressed concern over unguarded
and inciting utterances from people like elder statesman,
Chief Edwin Clark and Alhaji Mujahideen Dokubo Asari,
saying their utterances were threatening the corporate
existence of Nigeria and the peace and security of the
nation.
“On many occasions, when Clark or Dokubo talked, they
threatened that if President Jonathan did not win 2015
presidential election, Nigeria will break, and they always
regard Northerners as parasites.
“Let me warn that nobody will intimidate us no matter the
position he is holding or his influence in the society. Our
people have been killed, our economy has been destroyed,
we have been pushed to the wall. Whoever touches us
again, we shall march and dare him, to protect our interest
and our region.”
« XMAS celebration:

Oga Jonathan, he that protects me never sleep nor slumber

On the drop in the price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main foreign revenue earner, Jonathan admitted that the trend will “affect us in one way or the other” but promised that “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.”

it seems gej is also working on stabilizing global oil prices.

Jonathan meant good for Nigeria is just that buhari use book haram to paint him black
anyway gej til 2019

Because he knows that Buhari will win
By God's Grace

2015 will be hard for you and your family only not me. Oloriburuku somebody.

God will disgrace anyone is who is planning to bring hardship to Nigerian.

aare07:
Because he knows that Buhari will win
By God's Grace

God forbid

madridguy:
God will disgrace anyone is who is planning to bring hardship to Nigerian.

yeah God must disgrace buhari

emmanuel4758:
God forbid

if buhari win just pack go ghana unless u wan follow jonathan go jail

Oga Jona dey fear

falconey:
if buhari win just pack go ghana unless u wan follow jonathan go jail

na you abi na your spirit or ancestor go jail me ? IFA slap you ehh
nevertheless Jonathan give us railway privatised electricity which will yield result also won nation cup and as am talking building Enugu to Onitsha xpress also give us democracy as never seen before anybody who vote for buhari must be either an he/shediot or almajiri

emmanuel4758:
na you abi na your spirit or ancestor go jail me ? IFA slap you ehh
nevertheless Jonathan give us railway privatised electricity which will yield result also won nation cup and as am talking building Enugu to Onitsha xpress also give us democracy as never seen before anybody who vote for buhari must be either an he/shediot or almajiri

olodo and u ar busy abusing some1 which electricity does he give us dnt u knw he have sold phcn &u said he won nation cup! Do u c any of his kid in d pitch mtcheew

Pheals:
olodo and u ar busy abusing some1 which electricity does he give us dnt u knw he have sold phcn &u said he won nation cup! Do u c any of his kid in d pitch mtcheew

in 1982 your oga at the top rule Nigeria no be candle your grand mother they use then ?why your oga at the top no privatise n.e.p.a then which will yield result ? a philosopher said a devil you know is better than angel you don't know .if. you vote for. buhari that mean your sense has some glitches

emmanuel4758:
in 1982 your oga at the top rule Nigeria no be candle your grand mother they use then ?why your oga at the top no privatise n.e.p.a then which will yield result ? a philosopher said a devil you know is better than angel you don't know .if. you vote for. buhari that mean your sense has some glitches

i dnt support buari tu xo for yr grand mother wey dey use candle u better buy gen. Go village anh give her

trillville:


it seems gej is also working on stabilizing global oil prices.

his supporters wont let us rest or allow us any peace on this forum when a similar statement was credited to Buhari.

emmanuel4758:
in 1982 your oga at the top rule Nigeria no be candle your grand mother they use then ?why your oga at the top no privatise n.e.p.a then which will yield result ? a philosopher said a devil you know is better than angel you don't know .if. you vote for. buhari that mean your sense has some glitches

Give us the name of that philosopher you have wrongly quoted or, sharrap.

Caseless:
Give us the name of that philosopher you have wrongly quoted or, sharrap.

picture of human being quoting me or this is robot,,,,,,,if you want the name of philosopher is a pithagoras but I still doubt if am not responding robotooooh

Pheals:
i dnt support buari tu xo for yr grand mother wey dey use candle u better buy gen. Go village anh give her

good luck made it possible cus in my villa now we have stable light so no need of generator so let support the Democratic leader good luck azikewe Ebere Jonathan onwa 1 of Nigeria the economy builder the tecnocract of Africa this is first Democratic President west African ever had 2019 is his bus stop then he will. transform Nigeria to a better place were many country will rush to as a tourist site and he will boom our economy don't tell me what has he done for past 4year because if I start to mention you will be overwhelmed so let support democracy than supporting totalitarian govt lead by old illiterate

emmanuel4758:
na you abi na your spirit or ancestor go jail me ? IFA slap you ehh
nevertheless Jonathan give us railway privatised electricity which will yield result also won nation cup and as am talking building Enugu to Onitsha xpress also give us democracy as never seen before anybody who vote for buhari must be either an he/shediot or almajiri

I don see your future u go join your papa for prison....bloody hypocrite!!!!!

emmanuel4758:
picture of human being quoting me or this is robot,,,,,,,if you want the name of philosopher is a pithagoras but I still doubt if am not responding robotooooh

i'm a robot. Btw, u are wrong.

2015 feb14 would av been easy for u, if u did ur homework

emmanuel4758:

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate
reiterated that the ambition of anybody in the country was
not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
His word:
“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian."

Buhariiii, listen to how a sensible human being talks, not to tell people to defend their votes with their blood, threaten opponents supporters n children of death, promise to soak people in blood n all that.
Something tells me your end is near, d blood of d corpers slain in 2011 n those killed by d group dat named u as their mediator's cried long enough.

falconey:
I don see your future u go join your papa for prison....bloody hypocrite!!!!!

story for the gods .bloody nyscs copper killers you and your papa buhari go enjoy 72 virgin in hell nevertheless good luck till 2019

bondingman:

Buhariiii, listen to how a sensible human being talks, not to tell people to defend their votes with their blood, threaten opponents supporters n children of death, promise to soak people in blood n all that.
Something tells me your end is near, d blood of d corpers slain in 2011 n those killed by d group dat named u as their mediator's cried long enough.

yes we will not vote for terrorist come 2015 fresh air till 2019