Security problems could’ve been worse without prayers –Jonathan

By Olalekan Adetayo PUNCH

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said the security challenges  in some parts of the country could have been worse but for the prayers of Nigerians.

Jonathan spoke at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Olive Tree Parish, Ikoyi, Lagos where he joined the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and others for Sunday service.

The President, who was  accompanied by the wife of Lagos State Governor,  Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire;  and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, reiterated his  belief that the violence being unleashed by  Boko Haram members in the North-East represented  Nigeria’s share of the negative news across the world.

He however described the nation’s share as “an unfair share.”

The President  observed that a content analysis of the  mass media across the world  showed  that rarely do positive news come from any country.

Despite the   security challenges however, Jonathan said God had  been faithful to Nigeria.

He expressed the belief that God  would  continue to hear the prayers of Nigerians so that the country could be set free from the grips of terrorists.

Jonathan said, “I want to thank all of you for your prayers for this country. I thank Christians and other religious groups that pray for this country, especially at this  period  that the whole world is facing a lot of challenges.

“You will agree with me that whenever you tune your television, especially the international news centres like CNN (Cable News Network), Aljazeera or SkyNews, you always see breaking news.

“All the breaking news stories are always negative;  you hardly see any positive breaking news all over the world.

“In Nigeria too, we have been having our own unfair share of this negative news brought about by Boko Haram members who are killing people at will.

“But we believe that God knows it all. Without your prayers, probably it will have been worse than this. God has always been faithful to Nigeria.

“God will contnue to hear our prayers so that our country will get out of these challenges of terror and other related crimes.”

The President lauded members of the RCCG for the 100-day fasting and prayer they started in January, saying it is not an easy task.

He observed that the ongoing spiritual exercise  was  not for personal gains but in the interest of the nation.

Jonathan said, “For the Redeemed family, we have to sincerely thank you because you declared 100 days of fasting, it is not an easy task.

“Even to keep faith with the orthodox 40 days fasting during the Lent period which I also participate in, is not easy

“You are fasting not because of your personal interest, but for the country. I have to thank the General Overseer and all of you who have been taking part in this fasting. God will hear our prayers.”

Adeboye assured the President that the church would continue to intercede for the country and its political leaders.

He said that RCCG  members were interested in the peace of the country because they had no other place to run to for refuge.

“I can assure you that we are praying and we will continue to pray because we have no other place to go to,” he assured the President.

The pastor urged Christians to always seek the face of God and patiently wait for  his  visitation.

He cited the examples of the biblical Sarah, Rachel and Modeciah whom he said God remembered and turned their situation around after many years of waiting.

Meanwhile, the President is expected to continue his consultations with traditional rulers in  the South- West on Monday (today) with his planned visit to the Akran of Badagry, Oba Aholu Menu-Toyi 1.

Jonathan had on Saturday visited the  Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, in what a Presidency source said was in preparation to declare his interest in the 2015 presidential election.

He held closed-door sessions with the monarchs in the states being controlled by the All Progressives Congress in the South-West.

He however claimed that he embarked on the visits to thank the monarchs for their efforts at maintaining peace in their domains.

Although the President was earlier scheduled to visit the Akran of Badagry on Saturday, he could not make the trip because of time constraints necessitating its postponement till Monday.