NEXT DEMOCRACY DAY WILL WITNESS A NEW GOVERNMENT - PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured Nigerians that by this time next year, the country ‘will witness a new government’. “I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.”

The president also said the challenges of terrorism and insecurity would not curtail the conduct of a free, fair and credible general elections in 2015. He gave the assurance at the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja. He said the nation would continue to move forward, notwithstanding the setbacks occasioned by the terrorists’ activities.

Jonathan said nothing would stop the conduct of the general elections in a peaceful manner and with globally acceptable standards. He said the state of insecurity in the country, which was spearheaded by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, was meant to bring down his government. “I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, a journalist asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria, and I told him there would be elections in this country. “This country will continue to move forward in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing,” the President said.

Jonathan said Nigeria would overcome every dark forces facing it, in spite of forces of development as well as forces of retrogression operating in the country. He thanked all the religious faiths for their prayers for the administration and the country at large, saying this had kept the nation together. “Without your prayers, it would have been worse. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security men. “All these distractions were planned to bring this government down. Since they failed, terror will also fail. “Forces of darkness will never prevail over light. I call on all Nigerians to continue to pray and, with God on our side, we shall overcome,” he said.

President Jonathan thanked God for the 15 straight years of democracy in the country, saying it is the best form of government. He said his administration’s ‘Transformation Agenda’ was not a mere campaign promise, but had yielded visible dividends and positive developments in every sector in the past three years. The President listed some of the benefitting sectors to include rail, roads, airports, agriculture, petroleum, power, industry and housing.

In the sermon delivered by Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme noted that the circumstances Nigeria presently finds itself are similar to the period of Mordecai. He said this is as recorded in the Book of Esther, chapter 4 verse 13 in the Holy Bible.

The pastor said the country was in a defining moment which would transform to greatness with genuine repentance and fear of God. “It is when the time is darkest that God chooses to reveal its glory and I believe Nigeria will arise. A new Nigeria is about to be born. “Nigeria is simply experiencing child labour, which will give way to the birth of a great nation,” he said.

NAN reports that congregational prayers were offered for security, peace and development, as well as for the victims and families of recent bomb blasts. Prayers were also said for the successful search for and rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls, as well as for President Jonathan and his family and the three arms of government.

The service was attended by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, the President’s mother, Madam Eunice, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha. Others in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and presidential aides.