Boko Haram can’t stop 2015 polls – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared that not even the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect in the country will prevent the 2015 general elections from holding. According to him, next year’s Democracy Day and its activities will be marked by a new government different from the present one. Speaking at the 2014 Democracy Day interdenominational church service held at the Ecunemical Centre, Abuja, Jonathan noted that but for God’s intervention, terrorist activities currently rocking the country were fashioned to bring down his government. “After today, the next Democracy Day will witness a new government. I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, and a pressman asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria. 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,” he stated. The president who identified two types of forces operating in Nigeria as forces of development and forces of retrogression (evil) expressed optimism that the country will overcome all the dark forces facing the country. He said, “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 have 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.” Jonathan, who said his administration’s transformation policies are not mere campaign promises, further noted that his administration has recorded great achievements in various sectors in the past three years. He listed some of the sectors to include rail, roads, airports, agriculture, petroleum, power, industry and housing. In his homily, Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme likened the circumstances Nigeria presently finds itself to that of Israel during Mordecai’s era as recorded in Esther 4:13. “The dark moment we find ourselves now will surely transform to greatness. It is when the time is darkest that God chooses to reveal its glory. I believe Nigeria will arise. A new Nigeria is about to be born. Nigeria is simply experiencing child labour that will give way to the birth of a great nation,” he said. Ekwueme urged everyone to be ready to sacrifice in the midwifery process that will result in the birth of a new great Nigeria. He noted, however, that three things must be done before the rebirth: genuine repentance, fear of the almighty God and offer of a united prayer unto the Lord as a church. Senate president David Mark took the second Bible reading. Intercessory prayers were said for the nation’s security, peace and development as well as for the victims and families of recent bomb blasts. Prayers were also said for the successful search and release of the Chibok schoolgirls and for the president and the family and the three arms of government. Also present at the church service were First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, the president’s mother Eunice, deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha. Others are secretary to the government of the federation Anyim Pius Anyim, minister of state, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide; members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and heads of government agencies.