Jonathan to decampees: Please decamp
well
*Says his ambition is not worth the blood
of any Nigerian
President Goodluck Jonathan has advised
those interested in defecting to other
political parties to ahead, wishing safe
trip to their new political abode as he
asked them to decamp well.
The President also urged elderly
politicians in the country to promote
peace and unity through their utterances.
He gave the advice on Sunday while
speaking at the Armed Forces
Remembrance Day Service at the National
Christian Centre, Abuja.
Although he did not mention the name of
the elderly politicians,he said that senior
citizens in the age bracket of 70 or 80yrs
who have seen it all and ought to know
that the unity of Nigeria is more important
than any individual interest have
encouraged youth to hate and carry arms
to kill others.
Stressing that his ambition doesn’t worth
bloodshed of any Nigerian, the President
also advised those decamping to decamp
well or those camping to camp well.
He said: “We are also to emulate them.
Those who have paid supreme sacrifice to
keep out nation together, those of us who
are alive especially leaders today should
think of what we can do to honour them is
to know that whatever we say, whatever
song we sing, it should be a song that will
bring honour to them and peace to this
country.”
“Sometimes I get worried when I listen to
provocative statements that come from
very senior citizens. People that ordinarily
you perceive are very senior citizens.
People who are probably 70 or 80 years
who have seen it all who ordinarily
should know the unity of this country is
more important than the interest any
individual.
Sometimes they preach hate and even
encourage young people to carry arms
and kill themselves.”
Speaking on his ambition, he said: “I have
always said it that any ambition I have at
any time is not worth the blood of any
Nigerian. I will never ever expect a
Nigerian to spill a drop of his blood
because Goodluck Jonathan must fulfil
his ambition.”
“I pray that all politicians should know
that there will be no nation if we kill
ourselves, just like the Archbishop said if
you want people to come out and vote
why do you threaten them. If you threaten
them people will stay in their houses and
how do you intend to win election? Is it by
manipulating the figures and declare
yourself a winner?” He queried
Jonathan continued: “So in an occasion
when we are remembering those people
that have kept this country one for us to
be celebrating our centenary we should
admonish ourselves the key actors today,
we should preach peace, we should
preach unity.”
“If all of us collectively talk about the
unity and peace of this country then of
course all our economic, security
problems will be resolved and the country
will move in the direction we want it to.”
“For the guest speaker we thank God for
your message, the admonition when he
was talking about those who want to
camp should camp well and those who
want to decamp should decamp well.”
“Pray for us to always remember our
fathers because we are in a political
environment and politicians always have
ambitions, we really appreciate your
prayers.” He said
He thanked the churches for their prayers
noting that the challenges facing the
country within the global trend could have
been worse than what it is today.
“Nigeria would have been two or more
nations by now. But they worked for it,
some died in the process, some died
serving the world outside . These are the
people we are remembering today.” He
stated
The President had earlier read the second
Bible reading from Ephesians Chapter 6,
verses 10 to 19a.
Delivering his sermon before the President
spoke, the Archbishop of Methodist
Church of Nigeria, Abuja, Archbishop Job
Oche advised politicians ahead of the
2015 elections to stop threatening
Nigerians with their utterances as they
will not come out to vote if they feel
threatened.
He said: “May I advise all politicians here
to give us peace of mind. People have
started to fear how 2015 will look like. If
you need our votes, don’t threaten us.
Begin to preach peace that will make us to
come out and vote.”
“Leave 2015 alone, God knows what to do
with 2015. Leave the problems of
tomorrow for tomorrow. Stop destroying
one another because of ambition.
According to him, the church has little to
say on the camping and decamping by
politicians stressing that ministers are
also involved in decamping as some of
them leave their churches after few
months to set up their churches.
He said: “On camping and decamping,
the church has no answer to that because
the church is also involved in camping
and decamping. If after three or six
months, a minister builds his own church,
is that not decamping?”
Noting that all rebellion can not stand the
test of time, he said: “whether you camp
or decamp, the Most High God will speak.
Ambition knows no father.”
Taking the congregation through Hebrews
chapter 11 from verse 13, 2nd Timothy 4:
7, he urged Nigerians to do everything
possible to keep Nigeria one so that the
labour of past heroes will not be in vain.
To keep Nigeria one, he urged them to
contribute their quota instead of
criticising the leaders.
Calling on Nigerians to see the ongoing
developments in the power sector,
transportation, reducing unemployment
rate and fight against corruption, he
urged politicians to stop recruiting thugs
and hired assassins in order to create a
special place for themselves in politics.
Also urging Nigerians to rebuke those
who are power drunk, he pleaded with
politicians to stop utterances that are
capable of weakening the leaders, just as
he advised Nigerians to perpetually love
one another instead of hatred for other
tribes or religion.
He prayed that the peace of God will
continue to prevail in Nigeria as the 2015
elections approaches.
Some men of God at the service were also
given opportunity to pray for wisdom and
protection of the President and his family
and the nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment