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Jonathan: we’re changing approach to Boko Haram |
He said activities of the Islamic sect or other international terrorists “cannot disintegrate Nigeria”.
Dr. Jonathan spoke while receiving a delegation on Easter homage at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Suicide bombers killed no fewer than 75 people last week in Nyanya, near Abuja. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Noting that the nation is going through some challenges, the President said there is hope and that the country would overcome them.
The President also promised that his administration would do everything possible to continue to bring development to every part of the country.
But he harped on the need for the three tiers of government to work collectively to solve the problems.
He said: “Easter is the most important ceremony in Christian faith. Without His resurrection, our faith would have been in vain. His resurrection gives us hope. You will have tribulations but there is hope for you. Today we are marking that resurrection.
“Yes, as a nation, we are having tribulations but surely, Nigeria has hope. Surely, we will overcome these tribulations. Even those who think that this country will divide, those who think the country will be divided into North, South, East and West, no way. Boko Haram will not disintegrate this country.
“Most of you are aware that when Nyanya was bombed, Nigerians from all religions and tribes participated in the evacuation of people who were injured even before the security arrived. People donated more blood than required.
“That shows that no criminal group, funded within or outside this country, can separate us. No criminal group will disintegrate this country. Boko Haram will come and go. We are working very hard, we are changing our approach, God willing, we will end Boko Haram.
“To you my brethren, I thank all of you for your prayers and I promise that we will work to do our best to bring development to this country. We have challenges. We have the issue of unemployment. Not too long ago, there was this ugly development at the Immigration Service, because of the level of unemployment and partial employment.
“Some are doing jobs that do not meet their qualifications; they are partially employed. So when you talk of employment in Customs or Immigration, you will see everybody rushing there.”
On the need for cooperation among the tiers of government, he said: “States are semi autonomous. The President does not control states or local governments’ resources. Governors and local government chairmen control their resources. If all of us work in concert, we will solve most of our problems instead of trading blames. Government is one. God willing, we will get to where we want to be.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, who led the delegation, presented an Easter card to President Jonathan.
Senator Smart Adeyemi, chairman of the Senate committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said: “We are happy to have a President who trusts in God. Nigeria will triumph over its challenges. Mr. President, you will succeed.”
In the delegation were: the Primate of Anglican Church, Dr. Nicholas Okoh, Senator Phillip Aduda, officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Abuja.
First Lady Patience Jonathan was not at the homage visit.
She also was not at the church service where the President recited the 2014 memory verse of the chapel from 1st Peter 5: 6 to 7.
The first lesson was taken by the wife of the Aso Villa Chaplain, Mrs. Onwuzurumba, from the book of Leviticus 23: 9 to 14. Mr. John Kennedy Okpara took the second lesson from 1st Corinthians 15: 9 to 14.
There was a prayer session for the first family, the congregation and Nigeria as a whole.
The Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba maintained that only God can make somebody president.
In his Easter Sunday sermon he said it was not a position anyone could just wake up and desire to fill.
In his message titled: “Let’s celebrate”, Ven. Onwuzurumba said there was every reason to celebrate despite the bad and sad stories in the media.
He said: “It takes a lot to become a President. It is not easy. It is not something you desire; it is what God gives.”
He took the congregation through Romans 5: 12, 1st Corinthians 15: 19 to 29 and Ephisians 2: 12.
Continuing, Ven. Onwuzurumba said: “When we celebrate, it is a way of showing appreciation of what God has done. We are celebrating Jesus today because he is the hope of the world.
“This world does not offer us any hope. It is only Jesus Christ that brought hope to the world.”
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