President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday admitted that he cannot transform Nigeria overnight as his administration’s transformation agenda was not a magic wand that would solve all the issues confronting the country at once.
He said that the major concern of his government was to demonstrate an unfailing love for all Nigerians instead of hostility and violence.
President Jonathan made this statement while dedicating the House on the Rock Cathedral in Lagos, where he observed that Nigeria had undergone a series of tough times, particularly during the military era, and would have gone through worse if not for the prayers and intercessions of Christians.
He said, “The great task before us as a nation is to demonstrate unfailing love wherever we are and to show that underlying our faith and belief is peace and harmony, never hostility or violence.
“The task of achieving our greatest potential as a nation lies in the collective effort of every individual and community, underpinned by love. If we all do our part, no matter how small, the Nigeria we crave will be a reality.”
Jonathan described the cathedral as an achievement of science, technology and the presence of God in the lives of Nigerians, adding that “it is also an unmistakable demonstration of our capacity for great achievements as Nigerians in any endeavour where we put our energies, industry and determination towards”.
He commended the vision of the Metropolitan Senior Pastor of the House on the Rock, Rev Paul Adefarasin to build God’s house and quoted some Bible verses on the virtues of building the cathedral and its spiritual relevance.
Also speaking at the dedication, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said from the difficulty he went through in his bid to transform his country, the task of national transformation anywhere in the world required the efforts of committed leaders.
Blair, who attended the occasion with by his wife Cherie, expressed optimism that the Jonathan administration would succeed in its bid to transform the country and change the fortunes of Nigerians who, he noted, were still wallowing in abject poverty.
He also expressed his belief in Nigeria to overcome its current security challenges caused by religious zealotry, adding that the quest for religious peace and reconciliation was not peculiar to Nigeria alone.
He recounted his experience in office, using Jerusalem and the protracted Middle East crises as example, saying he “will love to see the day that Jerusalem will not only be a holy place but a centre of love for all”.
In his sermon, Rev. Adefarasin, described Blair was his mentor in inter-faith, to which he admits he is committed.
He also decried a situation where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and urged government to uphold equity and equality among citizens within the ambit of the rule of law, enthusing hope that Nigeria will be great.
Leave a Reply