Jonathan, Obasanjo sit side by side in church

Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo sat next to each other at Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke in Bayelsa state, on Sunday.

Both men are of the Anglican fold.

Seriake Dickson, governor of the state and top officials of the Bayelsa state government joined the ex-presidents during the service presided over by James Oruwori, bishop of Ogbia.

While welcoming Obasanjo to his community church, Jonathan said Obasanjo had promised to visit Otuoke in return for his own visit to his hometown.

Jonathan said he did not know it would happen so soon.

The immediate past president also called for peace and understanding among Nigerians in the bid to enthrone a just society.

While presenting his goodwill message to the congregation, Obasanjo described Jonathan as Nigeria’s youngest former president.

He advised Nigerians to always speak the truth, saying he believed in the Biblical verse that, “only the truth shall set you free” and make life meaningful.

The former president also sued for peace, saying: “unless we have peace, we will not have development and if we do not have development, we will not be able to defeat poverty.”

That was the second time Obasanjo visited Jonathan in Otuoke during his recent trip to the state.

The elder statesman was hosted to a private dinner in Jonathan’s house on Friday.

Obasanjo left Bayelsa on Sunday afternoon after a three-day visit that saw him inaugurate some projects.