Nigeria will overcome challenges, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday expressed assurance that the country would over come its many challenges.

Speaking at a brief communion service at his residence to mark his 57th birthday, Jonathan said with the support of the country and the help of God, Nigeria would reach its potentials.

“Though we are facing challenges we shall surely overcome, God will see us through,” he said.

“No one individual or group of individuals can hold this nation to ransom. Let us be together and work hard, and pray to God and surely all of us will be saved.”

Obioma Onwuzurumba, the presidential chaplain who conducted the service, took his text from 1 Samuel 10:14-27‎, and told the president not to despair because of trouble makers in the land.

Observing that King Saul was similarly despised, Onwuzurumba assured Jonathan that God’s hand was on him.

Reacting to statements made by Rotimi Amaechi‎, governor of Rivers state, who allegedly threatened civil unrest should the 2015 elections favour the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the chaplain said that with God’s hand on the president, the opposition would amount to nothing significant.

“I don’t know whether I heard well yesterday (Wednesday), a governor said if PDP wins elections there will be civil unrest,” he said.

“But I want to say from this scripture that this thing did not start today, they have been there ‎even though God has chosen a man to represent him, there were still people that were willing to do all sorts of nasty things but certainly when God’s hand is upon a man, there is nothing opposition can do.”

Expressing delight that God chose Jonathan to govern Nigeria, Onwuzurumba prayed that God would give the president valiant men who have good hearts to work with him towards achieving the purpose for which God had chosen him.

The event, which held between 6.30am and 7.15am on Thursday, was attended by the president’s wife, Patience Jonathan; his mother, Eunice Jonathan; family members, relatives, close friends and some presidential aides.

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, and Joan Ayo, chairperson of the civil service commission, were also present.