Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has advised the people of the state to
be at alert as the floods, which hit the state recently, will continue
for a long time.
Wada gave the advice in Lokoja on Sunday while receiving relief
materials donated to the state by Partners for Development and Baby
Hanatu Foundation.
He said the brief he just received from experts on the flood disaster was categorical that the state would witness more floods.
Wada added that the government would do its best to mitigate the effects
of the disaster on the people living in the affected 332 communities
spread across the nine local government areas of the state.
The governor, who had earlier met with officials of National Emergency
Management Agency to get a situation report on the flooding, thanked the
donors for their support and assistance, assuring them that the
materials would reach the victims.
He also appealed to well-meaning individuals and groups t, who urgently
required the support and assistance of everybody to start life again.
Mr Tony Amegho, who spoke on behalf of the donors, said the materials
represented the first in the series of assistance that would be coming
to the victims.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Did You Miss It? Read President Jonathan’s 52nd Independence Day Broadcast Here
AN ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY ANNIVERSARY ON MONDAY, 1STOCTOBER, 2012
beloved countrymen and women, on this day, fifty-two years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.
Those who witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the emergence of the Green White Green flag continue to relish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.
That future is here; we are the inheritors of a great legacy that goes even much farther into the past.
The worthy patriots who made this possible were young men and women in their twenties and thirties. They worked together to restore dignity and honour to the Nigerian people. Their resolve united a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups.
In 1960, our diversity became a source of strength, and the new leaders resolved to carry the flag of independence for the benefit of future generations. They had their differences, but they placed a greater premium on the need to come together to build a new nation.
It is that resolve, and that glorious moment that we celebrate today. We also celebrate the patriotism of our heroes past: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, and several others who made the case for our independence.
We remember as always, their contributions to the making of the Nigerian nation, and the efforts of their successors since 1960. We also celebrate the unfailing optimism and resilience of Nigerians who remain proud of our national identity.
On this special day, I call on every Nigerian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. I call on every Nigerian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people:
We weathered the storm of the civil war, we have refused to be broken by sectarian crises; we have remained a strong nation. I bring to you today, a message of renewed hope and faith in the immense possibilities that lie ahead.
Fellow citizens, I have an unshaken belief in the future of our great Country. I consider it a priority and sacred duty to continue to strengthen the bond of unity that holds our nation together and to promote and nourish the creative energies of our people. This is a central objective of our administration’s Transformation Agenda. Nigeria, I assure you, will continue to grow from strength to strength.
Since I assumed office as President of our dear country on the 6th of May 2010, I have continued to work with our countrymen and women to enhance our nation’s growth and development.
Our vision is encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda. We are working hard and making progress on many fronts. We have cleaned up our electoral process; our elections are now globally acclaimed to be free and fair. Nigeria is now on a higher pedestal regarding elections.
Over the past five years, the global economy has been going through a weak and uncertain recovery. During the same period and particularly in the last two years, the Nigerian economy has done appreciably well despite the global financial crisis. Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 7.1 per cent on average.
It is also significant that the GDP growth has been driven largely by the non-oil sector. In pursuance of the main goals of the Transformation Agenda, a number of reforms and initiatives are being pursued in key sectors of the economy with a view to consolidating the gains of the economic growth.
Our country’s power supply situation is improving gradually. We are successfully implementing a well-integrated power sector reform programme which includes institutional arrangements to facilitate and strengthen private-sector-led power generation, transmission and distribution.
We have also put in place a cost-reflective tariff structure that reduces the cost of power for a majority of electricity consumers. I am pleased with the feedback from across the country, of improvements in power supply.
We are continuing to improve and stabilize on our crude production volumes; our 12-month gas supply emergency plan, put in place earlier this year, has produced more than the targeted volumes of gas for power generation. A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been placed before the National Assembly. Its passage into law will ensure far-reaching reforms, transparency, accountability, increased government revenue and predictability for investors in the Oil and Gas sector.
Several government programmes and projects are creating wealth and millions of job opportunities for our youth and general population. Such programmes include: You-Win, both for the youth and for the women, Public Works, the Local Content Initiative in the Oil and Gas Sector, and the Agricultural Transformation programme.
We have improved on our investment environment; more corporate bodies are investing in the Nigerian economy. Our Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments.
Nigeria has become the preferred destination for investment in Africa. It is ranked first in the top 5 host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent. We have streamlined bureaucratic activities at the ports to ensure greater efficiency in the handling of ports and port-related businesses. Specifically, we have drastically reduced the goods clearing period in our ports from about six weeks to about one week and under. We have an ultimate target of 48 hours.
We have put in place, a new visa policy that makes it easier for legitimate investors to receive long stay visas. We have achieved a 24-hour timeline for registration of new businesses, leading to the registration of close to 7, 000 companies within the second quarter of 2012.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has disclosed that, as at July 2012, 249 new members across the country had joined the Association, and that capacity utilization has also improved. The multiplier effect of this development on our job creation programme cannot be over-emphasized.
In the last two years, we have put in place structures for an upgrade of the country’s health sector, to promote in every respect, the individual citizen’s right to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare.
In this regard, we are devoting resources under the Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE-P) to reducing malaria incidents, dramatically reducing maternal and child mortality, and eradicating polio.
Fellow Nigerians, in recent times, we have witnessed serious security challenges in parts of our country. We have taken pro-active measures to check the menace. This has included constant consultation and collaboration with our neighbours and other friendly nations on issues relating to internal and cross border security, and the sharing of information on smuggling and illegal dealing in small arms and light weapons.
Our security agencies are constantly being strengthened and repositioned for greater efficiency. Many Nigerians have acknowledged that there has been a significant decline in the spate of security breaches.
While expressing our condolences to the affected families, let me reiterate the commitment of this Administration to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians.
Even as we remain focused on the issue of security, the fight against the scourge of corruption is a top priority of our Administration. We are fighting corruption in all facets of our economy, and we are succeeding. We have put an end to several decades of endemic corruption associated with fertilizer and tractor procurement and distribution. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.
In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.
We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge.
I have given my commitment of non-interference in the work of the relevant agencies and I am keeping my word. What we require is the full cooperation of all tiers of government, and the public, especially civil society and the media.
This Administration has also introduced for the first time in Nigeria’s history, a Performance Contract System for all Ministers, and other officials of government. This is to further place emphasis on performance, efficiency, and service delivery.
Fellow Nigerians, our determined efforts on several fronts not-withstanding, our country still faces a number of challenges.
Those challenges should not deter us. In the last few weeks, for example, many of our communities have been ravaged by floods, resulting in the loss of lives and property, and the displacement of persons.
I want to reassure all affected Nigerians that I share in their grief, and our Administration is taking steps to address these incidents, in collaboration with the States and Local Governments.
I have received the interim Report of the Presidential team that I set up to assess the flooding situation across the country.
The Federal Government has taken measures to assist the affected States, while considering long term measures to check future reoccurrence.
We must continue to work together, confidently and faithfully, to ensure that our country’s potentials are realised to the fullest; that our dreams are translated into reality; and that our goals are achieved.
Let me reiterate that our administration is committed to the pursuit of fundamental objectives of an open society: the pursuit of freedom, security and prosperity for the Nigerian people, and the rule of law.
In the next few days, I shall lay before the National Assembly the 2013 Federal Budget Proposal so that deliberations can commence in earnest on the key policies, programmes and projects that will mark a decisive year for our development and transformation.
I have no doubt that by the time I address you on our next independence anniversary, many of our reform efforts would have yielded even better results.
Over the years, several leaders have built on the foundation laid by our Founding Fathers. The baton is now in our hands. Let me assure all Nigerians that we shall not fail.
I am confident that Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens; to Africa and the Black Race and to humanity; a land that is known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God bless you all.
beloved countrymen and women, on this day, fifty-two years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.
Those who witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the emergence of the Green White Green flag continue to relish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.
That future is here; we are the inheritors of a great legacy that goes even much farther into the past.
The worthy patriots who made this possible were young men and women in their twenties and thirties. They worked together to restore dignity and honour to the Nigerian people. Their resolve united a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups.
In 1960, our diversity became a source of strength, and the new leaders resolved to carry the flag of independence for the benefit of future generations. They had their differences, but they placed a greater premium on the need to come together to build a new nation.
It is that resolve, and that glorious moment that we celebrate today. We also celebrate the patriotism of our heroes past: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, and several others who made the case for our independence.
We remember as always, their contributions to the making of the Nigerian nation, and the efforts of their successors since 1960. We also celebrate the unfailing optimism and resilience of Nigerians who remain proud of our national identity.
On this special day, I call on every Nigerian to remain steadfast, because our nation is indeed making progress. I call on every Nigerian to rediscover that special spirit that enables us to triumph over every adversity as a people:
We weathered the storm of the civil war, we have refused to be broken by sectarian crises; we have remained a strong nation. I bring to you today, a message of renewed hope and faith in the immense possibilities that lie ahead.
Fellow citizens, I have an unshaken belief in the future of our great Country. I consider it a priority and sacred duty to continue to strengthen the bond of unity that holds our nation together and to promote and nourish the creative energies of our people. This is a central objective of our administration’s Transformation Agenda. Nigeria, I assure you, will continue to grow from strength to strength.
Since I assumed office as President of our dear country on the 6th of May 2010, I have continued to work with our countrymen and women to enhance our nation’s growth and development.
Our vision is encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda. We are working hard and making progress on many fronts. We have cleaned up our electoral process; our elections are now globally acclaimed to be free and fair. Nigeria is now on a higher pedestal regarding elections.
Over the past five years, the global economy has been going through a weak and uncertain recovery. During the same period and particularly in the last two years, the Nigerian economy has done appreciably well despite the global financial crisis. Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 7.1 per cent on average.
It is also significant that the GDP growth has been driven largely by the non-oil sector. In pursuance of the main goals of the Transformation Agenda, a number of reforms and initiatives are being pursued in key sectors of the economy with a view to consolidating the gains of the economic growth.
Our country’s power supply situation is improving gradually. We are successfully implementing a well-integrated power sector reform programme which includes institutional arrangements to facilitate and strengthen private-sector-led power generation, transmission and distribution.
We have also put in place a cost-reflective tariff structure that reduces the cost of power for a majority of electricity consumers. I am pleased with the feedback from across the country, of improvements in power supply.
We are continuing to improve and stabilize on our crude production volumes; our 12-month gas supply emergency plan, put in place earlier this year, has produced more than the targeted volumes of gas for power generation. A robust Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been placed before the National Assembly. Its passage into law will ensure far-reaching reforms, transparency, accountability, increased government revenue and predictability for investors in the Oil and Gas sector.
Several government programmes and projects are creating wealth and millions of job opportunities for our youth and general population. Such programmes include: You-Win, both for the youth and for the women, Public Works, the Local Content Initiative in the Oil and Gas Sector, and the Agricultural Transformation programme.
We have improved on our investment environment; more corporate bodies are investing in the Nigerian economy. Our Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments.
Nigeria has become the preferred destination for investment in Africa. It is ranked first in the top 5 host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent. We have streamlined bureaucratic activities at the ports to ensure greater efficiency in the handling of ports and port-related businesses. Specifically, we have drastically reduced the goods clearing period in our ports from about six weeks to about one week and under. We have an ultimate target of 48 hours.
We have put in place, a new visa policy that makes it easier for legitimate investors to receive long stay visas. We have achieved a 24-hour timeline for registration of new businesses, leading to the registration of close to 7, 000 companies within the second quarter of 2012.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has disclosed that, as at July 2012, 249 new members across the country had joined the Association, and that capacity utilization has also improved. The multiplier effect of this development on our job creation programme cannot be over-emphasized.
In the last two years, we have put in place structures for an upgrade of the country’s health sector, to promote in every respect, the individual citizen’s right to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare.
In this regard, we are devoting resources under the Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE-P) to reducing malaria incidents, dramatically reducing maternal and child mortality, and eradicating polio.
Fellow Nigerians, in recent times, we have witnessed serious security challenges in parts of our country. We have taken pro-active measures to check the menace. This has included constant consultation and collaboration with our neighbours and other friendly nations on issues relating to internal and cross border security, and the sharing of information on smuggling and illegal dealing in small arms and light weapons.
Our security agencies are constantly being strengthened and repositioned for greater efficiency. Many Nigerians have acknowledged that there has been a significant decline in the spate of security breaches.
While expressing our condolences to the affected families, let me reiterate the commitment of this Administration to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians.
Even as we remain focused on the issue of security, the fight against the scourge of corruption is a top priority of our Administration. We are fighting corruption in all facets of our economy, and we are succeeding. We have put an end to several decades of endemic corruption associated with fertilizer and tractor procurement and distribution. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.
In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.
We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge.
I have given my commitment of non-interference in the work of the relevant agencies and I am keeping my word. What we require is the full cooperation of all tiers of government, and the public, especially civil society and the media.
This Administration has also introduced for the first time in Nigeria’s history, a Performance Contract System for all Ministers, and other officials of government. This is to further place emphasis on performance, efficiency, and service delivery.
Fellow Nigerians, our determined efforts on several fronts not-withstanding, our country still faces a number of challenges.
Those challenges should not deter us. In the last few weeks, for example, many of our communities have been ravaged by floods, resulting in the loss of lives and property, and the displacement of persons.
I want to reassure all affected Nigerians that I share in their grief, and our Administration is taking steps to address these incidents, in collaboration with the States and Local Governments.
I have received the interim Report of the Presidential team that I set up to assess the flooding situation across the country.
The Federal Government has taken measures to assist the affected States, while considering long term measures to check future reoccurrence.
We must continue to work together, confidently and faithfully, to ensure that our country’s potentials are realised to the fullest; that our dreams are translated into reality; and that our goals are achieved.
Let me reiterate that our administration is committed to the pursuit of fundamental objectives of an open society: the pursuit of freedom, security and prosperity for the Nigerian people, and the rule of law.
In the next few days, I shall lay before the National Assembly the 2013 Federal Budget Proposal so that deliberations can commence in earnest on the key policies, programmes and projects that will mark a decisive year for our development and transformation.
I have no doubt that by the time I address you on our next independence anniversary, many of our reform efforts would have yielded even better results.
Over the years, several leaders have built on the foundation laid by our Founding Fathers. The baton is now in our hands. Let me assure all Nigerians that we shall not fail.
I am confident that Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens; to Africa and the Black Race and to humanity; a land that is known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God bless you all.
“They are killing us rather than dialoguing with us” – Another Boko Haram Video Released
Following claims that the some leaders of the dreaded Boko Haram sect has been killed by the JTF, an Hausa language video by its leader, Abubakar Shekau, posted on YouTube, has been released, denying the claims.The video in particular declared war on the Northern leaders, saying they have “messed up” and that there is no hiding place for them any longer: “This message is for those in authority (emirs, governors, and government officials). Wallahi you have no resting place again and no resting time again, either we are here or we are not… you (the Northern leaders) have messed up yourselves and you have messed up your own situation.”
Denying older claims of any form of negotiation between the group and the government, the group leader has said that there is nothing like that. However, they confirm that some of their members have been killed: “The claim that we are negotiating with the state is untrue, that is the figment of their imagination… We are not in dialogue with anyone, but this seems to feed their taste or their appetite for disinformation… All I can confirm is that they are killing us rather than dialoguing with us,” Shekau said.
The group leader also confirmed that female members of the groups have been captured by the JTF, and he threatened that the group will retaliate in kind: “As at Saturday when I made this video, between 7 and 10 of them (women) have been incarcerated… We don’t know where they are kept or what they are doing to them.”
On the recent anti-Islam video and claims by the JTF that the leadership of the group has been seriously decimated: “I have words for you (the makers of the video). All these have no impact on the prophet you know, however you wait and see what the consequences will be for you.” On their leadership, “The most bogus of these claims is that the leadership of our group has been decimated or arrested… It is probably the leadership of the rogue group that they killed which they created in the first place… You can go ahead and even declare that this broadcast is fiction.”
Boko Haram Issues Threat Over Anti-Islam Film
Posted by Information Nigeria in Home » Nigerian News on October 1, 2012 - 3 Comments
The suspected leader of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has issued a threat in a YouTube video over a US-made anti-Islam film that has sparked widespread protests in the Muslim world.
“First, insults against the prophet, evil plots against him, making blasphemous movies against him, all these will do no harm to Islam,” Abubakar Shekau says in the Hausa language spoken throughout Nigeria’s north in the video which appears to have been posted on Sunday.
“Anybody plotting this will surely pay for it. Everybody knows what this statement entails. Everybody should wait and see what we will do regarding this.”
The video could not be independently authenticated, but it closely resembled previous such videos of Shekau, who has been in hiding since a 2009 crackdown by Nigeria’s military on Boko Haram.
A number of protests over the anti-Islam film have been held in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north organised by a Shiite Muslim group not connected to Boko Haram, with no violent incidents occurring.
In the nine-minute video, Shekau, an AK-47 leant on the wall next to him, also threatens Nigerian authorities, says he is prepared to die and denies government assertions that there has been dialogue with his group.
“First, insults against the prophet, evil plots against him, making blasphemous movies against him, all these will do no harm to Islam,” Abubakar Shekau says in the Hausa language spoken throughout Nigeria’s north in the video which appears to have been posted on Sunday.
“Anybody plotting this will surely pay for it. Everybody knows what this statement entails. Everybody should wait and see what we will do regarding this.”
The video could not be independently authenticated, but it closely resembled previous such videos of Shekau, who has been in hiding since a 2009 crackdown by Nigeria’s military on Boko Haram.
A number of protests over the anti-Islam film have been held in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north organised by a Shiite Muslim group not connected to Boko Haram, with no violent incidents occurring.
In the nine-minute video, Shekau, an AK-47 leant on the wall next to him, also threatens Nigerian authorities, says he is prepared to die and denies government assertions that there has been dialogue with his group.
Beautiful girl dies after Sleeping with Alhaji and his monkey
Cynthia, as we gathered, was picked up by an Alhaji, and after they had fun, he took her to his guest house, and gave her $2000 to suck and sleep with his monkey. She refused at first but after looking at the money again, she concurred.
After the ordeal the alhaji went to drop her and drove off and few hours later she started complaining of stomach ache, she thought it was a normal thing, but from the few things we gathered from the source, fews hours later, maggots started coming out from her private parts; her friend tried to rush her to the hospital but it was too late.She died before they could do anything.
‘It is true the poverty level of the country is driving everyone mad, but Nigerian ladies need to be careful with some extremities in their search for a means of livelihood’.
So much information wasn’t released concerning the lady, and it’s very understandable judging by the circumstances surrounding her death. Prayer is for her to find rest, even in death
Monday, 1 October 2012
CULTISM: GOVERNOR AHMED READS RIOT ACT TO STUDENTS
Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has warned students of the state’s tertiary institutions of dire consequences of cultism emphasizing that government will implement to the letter the state edict on the menace.
Addressing representatives of the students under the auspices of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS at an interactive session on the state of Education in the State, Governor Ahmed said apart from risk going to jail, any student caught in cultism will be expelled from school.
Assuring the students of his determination to raise the standards in schools through the provision of adequate infrastructure and necessary incentives as indispensable aspects of the programme of shared prosperity, Ahmed reminded them that the state government’s anti-cultism crusade remains resolute. “The law on cultism will take its full course as we cannot fold our arms and allow cultism in our schools because it ruins lives”.
The Governor however, counseled the students not to be overwhelmed by youthful exuberance, emphasizing that “this is the time to define your future, identify your role model and burn as many candles as possible to get your goals. The more serious you are in school the better you come out and start life easily”.
He challenged the students to name any person who has benefited from cultism and living a good life, adding that it has never helped anybody in the long run. While imploring students to help their colleagues by exposing those engaged in cultism, the Governor called on parents to devote more time to monitoring their wards in order to tame some of their excesses early enough.
Ahmed told them that convicted cultists would have lost opportunities that would be difficult to regain.
Responding, president, National Association of Kwara State Students, NAKSS, comrade Sakir Akorede, pledge the support of the students to the realization of lofty policies of the state government.
Comrade Akorede described the stakeholders’ meeting as another manifestation of the transparency and openness of the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration through the involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making process on salient policies. Akorede thanked Governor Ahmed for consistently carrying the student’s body along in formulating policies that have direct bearing on their well-being, which, according to him, is responsible for the low level of students unrest in the State.
Jonathan - I Can't Solve Nigeria's Problem Alone
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said he could not single-handedly surmount the challenges confronting the nation.
Jonathan, at an interdenominational church service to mark the 52nd independence anniversary of the nation at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, stated that only the collective efforts of all would take the country forward.
He expressed the conviction that the problems of the nation would soon become things of the past.
The theme of the service was “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.”
The President said, “Leadership at all levels of government is a collective thing. One person cannot change a nation. The President, governors, lawmakers, members of the judiciary alone cannot do it.
“The leader matters but he cannot change things alone. All Nigerians, men and women, will change things in the country.
“If God can use Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, in all arms of governments, I believe we have many Nehemiahs. There are many of them among teachers, artisans, and clergy.
“God will use these various Nehemiahs to rebuild this country. I can say again that Nigeria will succeed; with our cooperation we shall succeed!”
Jonathan said if the nation must rise above diseases, insecurity and other ills, Nigerians must earnestly play their roles and intercede for the land
He said his administration had succeeded in sanitising the electoral process and assured stakeholders that more efforts were being put into the government’s anti-corruption war.
He said although the works might not be obvious to many now, his administration had also been doing well in the economic sector.
Promising that his administration would continue to work hard on the security challenges in some parts of the country, he added that he and his aides would not sleep until power supply stabilises in the country.
In his sermon at the service, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, described the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a terrorist organisation.
Oritsejafor said the sect was being funded by some politicians who wanted to create political space for themselves as well as some outsiders who desired Nigeria’s disintegration
He said, “Boko Haram is a terrorist organisation; you and I know it. The activities of Boko Haram are not fuelled by poverty but by a religious fundamentalist ideology.
“Boko Haram is funded from within by people who desire to use them to create political space for themselves and funded from without by those who want to see Nigeria divided along religious-ethnic lines.
“Boko Haram is also sustained by media apologist who feed the unsuspecting public with politically- incorrect half-truths.”
Oritsejafor said as a nation, if Nigerians were serious about getting answers to national prayers, they must turn from their wicked ways.
The cleric identified the two conditions necessary for answered prayers as humility and turning from wickedness.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, in his remarks said the nation’s independence anniversary called for a sober reflection and more prayer and supplication from all.
He said, “Together we can rescue our nation from its present difficulties. Nigeria would have been worst of if not for prayers.
“We have a divine responsibility to pray for the peace of our land, a nation bombarded with multiplicity of challenges. I urge church leadership to put on the armour of prayer to seek divine intervention from God. We must begin the process of mobilisation for prayers.”
Senate President David Mark read the first lesson of the service while Jonathan read the second.
Other dignitaries at the service were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice- President Alex Ekwueme, members and the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers, service chiefs, diplomatic corps and captains of industry
http://www.punchng.com/news/i-cant-solve-nigerias-problems-alone-president/
Jonathan, at an interdenominational church service to mark the 52nd independence anniversary of the nation at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, stated that only the collective efforts of all would take the country forward.
He expressed the conviction that the problems of the nation would soon become things of the past.
The theme of the service was “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.”
The President said, “Leadership at all levels of government is a collective thing. One person cannot change a nation. The President, governors, lawmakers, members of the judiciary alone cannot do it.
“The leader matters but he cannot change things alone. All Nigerians, men and women, will change things in the country.
“If God can use Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, in all arms of governments, I believe we have many Nehemiahs. There are many of them among teachers, artisans, and clergy.
“God will use these various Nehemiahs to rebuild this country. I can say again that Nigeria will succeed; with our cooperation we shall succeed!”
Jonathan said if the nation must rise above diseases, insecurity and other ills, Nigerians must earnestly play their roles and intercede for the land
He said his administration had succeeded in sanitising the electoral process and assured stakeholders that more efforts were being put into the government’s anti-corruption war.
He said although the works might not be obvious to many now, his administration had also been doing well in the economic sector.
Promising that his administration would continue to work hard on the security challenges in some parts of the country, he added that he and his aides would not sleep until power supply stabilises in the country.
In his sermon at the service, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, described the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a terrorist organisation.
Oritsejafor said the sect was being funded by some politicians who wanted to create political space for themselves as well as some outsiders who desired Nigeria’s disintegration
He said, “Boko Haram is a terrorist organisation; you and I know it. The activities of Boko Haram are not fuelled by poverty but by a religious fundamentalist ideology.
“Boko Haram is funded from within by people who desire to use them to create political space for themselves and funded from without by those who want to see Nigeria divided along religious-ethnic lines.
“Boko Haram is also sustained by media apologist who feed the unsuspecting public with politically- incorrect half-truths.”
Oritsejafor said as a nation, if Nigerians were serious about getting answers to national prayers, they must turn from their wicked ways.
The cleric identified the two conditions necessary for answered prayers as humility and turning from wickedness.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, in his remarks said the nation’s independence anniversary called for a sober reflection and more prayer and supplication from all.
He said, “Together we can rescue our nation from its present difficulties. Nigeria would have been worst of if not for prayers.
“We have a divine responsibility to pray for the peace of our land, a nation bombarded with multiplicity of challenges. I urge church leadership to put on the armour of prayer to seek divine intervention from God. We must begin the process of mobilisation for prayers.”
Senate President David Mark read the first lesson of the service while Jonathan read the second.
Other dignitaries at the service were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice- President Alex Ekwueme, members and the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers, service chiefs, diplomatic corps and captains of industry
http://www.punchng.com/news/i-cant-solve-nigerias-problems-alone-president/
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