Jonathan: Four years not enough to build Nigeria
President Goodluck Jonathan has said that four years is not enough for any one to build the nation. Jonathan said this at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Sunday during the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service. According to him, because nation building is a continuous process, the most important thing is for a leader to […]
President Goodluck Jonathan has said that four years is not enough for any one to build the nation.
Jonathan said this at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Sunday during the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service.
According to him, because nation building is a continuous process, the most important thing is for a leader to start very well and continue to do things very well.
The president said for any leader to move a nation forward, he/she has to select some few things, do them well and continue to do them very well to get to where he/she desires.
He said though the nation was yet to reach her destination, the transformation agenda of his administration had been fruitful within the last three years as witnessed in the turn-around in power, housing, road, agriculture and aviation sectors.
“You will agree with me that within these three years of this government, our agenda for transformation is coming out. We’ve not reached where we want to go. But there are certain symptoms people use to know whether a government is committed or is deceiving…Our transformation policies are not just political promises. We’re working and we’ll continue to work.
“We’ve not reached where we’re expected. And definitely you cannot build a nation in three years. This government is three years old and by 29th of May next year, we will have completed our four years. Even four years, you cannot; 10 years, you cannot. Nation building is a continuous process. The most important thing is to start very well and continue to do things very well”, he said.
Speaking further, Jonathan said the abduction by Boko Haram insurgents, of about 270 schoolgirls of Chibok, Borno State, had added a major dent to the nation’s security.
The president, however, expressed optimism that with the prayers of all Nigerians, the security agencies would rescue the girls.
“Let me thank the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria for arranging prayers across our states about the Chibok girls. We’ve been witnessing terror attacks for about two years plus, but the Chibok incident has added a major dent to the security of the country. There is nothing cannot do. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security personnel”, he said.
Jonathan also disclosed that all the distractions emanating from terrorist activities in the country were orchestrated to bring down his government.
“I always say one thing which all of you believe. All these distractions are planned to bring this government down and this they failed, the terror will also fail. Terror will not stop this country from progressing. As a nation, we know that the terrorists are humans and they are evil men. Definitely, they’re among what we categorise as evil forces. Forces of evil will never prevail. Forces of darkness will never prevail…In human history, individuals or societies are always confronted with two forces. The forces of development and the forces of retrogression, sometimes we call it evil forces. Our country is facing these challenges of evil forces”, he said.
The president, who noted that Nigeria was currently having her own share of the global challenges, said without the prayers of Nigerians, the situation would have been worse.
“This country must continue to move despite some of the setbacks we’re witnessing.
I appreciate all of you for your patience. The whole world is facing challenges, and as a nation, we’re also having our own share of global challenges. Without your prayers, it would have been worse, and I believe with consistent prayers, God will hear us”, he said.
He added: “By this time next year, we’ll celebrate a new government. From May 29, 2011 that we came on board, we’ve been facing a lot of challenges. Now, it’s terror, then, the Chibok girls. People wanted to frustrate the World Economic Forum in Abuja. Of course, there was a twin bomb, but still in terms of the content and the turn-out, what happened in Abuja was the second best. So, you can imagine if we were not facing these distractions within this period, you can imagine if this government had not been facing these distractions within this period, definitely, we’d have moved farther than this.
“I join all of your to thank God for 15 years of democracy in our country. This is the longest time that as a nation we have witnessed a democratic governance. No democracy without its own problems. In spite of this, the whole world believes it is still the best form of government. For us to run a democratic governance for 15 years is quite encouraging. Democracy is a stable system for which we can manage the economy. Anybody coming as a governor or president knows when you’re entering and when you’ll leave because it’s defined by laws. For that reason, you can plan. And you can interface with others. You can compare with others even as governors. During the military time, you hardly have comparisons. But now, the governors compare notes. They hold meetings, move from states to states and see what is happening”.
Calling on all Nigerians to continue to pray, he said “I believe that God is on our side, because whenever we’ve a reason to call upon His words, even during the centenary celebration we had an international seminar to discuss peace and development and world leaders came. Most of you listened to the speeches delivered by our brothers, heads of state and government from other African countries. They said clearly that they were looking up to Nigeria. Nigeria is country they believe can stand firm to lead the continent.
“They said clearly that our problems are not only our own, and successes are not only our own, but for the whole continent. These people appreciate us because of the quality of men and women we’ve, not just because of who we are, the resilience and doggedness of Nigerians and the commitment to succeed and of course we’ll succeed. Collectively, we’re moving this country forward. We’ll continue to work to move this country forward. The forces of evil will surely be overpowered by the forces of light. Nigeria will surely see the light”, he said.
The president also hinted that despite the current challenges, elections would hold next year.
“I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, a pressman man asked me whether there would be elections in Nigeria today, and I told him there would be elections in this country”, Jonathan said.