……… guest minister tells Jonathan to correct ‘certain’ mistakes if re-elected
The Palm Sunday Church Service was yesterday celebrated at Aso Rock Villa Chapel in low key, as only a handful of worshipers thronged the place to join President Goodluck Jonathan at the service.
On special occasions like the Palm Sunday, the small church is usually filled beyond its capacity, with worshippers occupying the space upstairs, while others would sit outside an overflow, watching the service from television sets.
But yesterday, apart from the choristers and clergy, it was only the first three pews on both sides that were occupied. A handful of workers, few security aides and journalists occupied the last pews in the church
The scanty congregation could only be interpreted to mean that those currying favour from the President may have deserted him in view of the suspicion that he may eventually lose the Presidential election.
But on this day, it was truly a solemn service attended mainly by few of the President’s aides, Chairperson Civil service Commission, Executive Secretary National Christian Pilgrims Commission and a couple from the diplomatic community.
Although the result has yet to be declared, there are snippets that the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, may be coasting home to landmark victory.
The guest minister, Rev. (Dr.) William Okoye, who is the founding General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission, Abuja, said those alleging that President Jonathan has not performed in his four years in office were either being mischievous or economical with the truth as his achievements were glaring for all to see.
While noting that Nigerians have done their beat by voting, he added that the rest was now in God’s hands and going by the performance of President Jonathan, the result will be in his favour.
Okoye who was the Chaplain of Aso Rock, Villa Chapel, Abuja, between 1999 and 2007, at the sermon titled “Victory Rest with The Lord”, and using the pilot text Proverbs 21:31, alluding to the presidential elections held on Saturday, said there was nothing the Jonathan administration has not done to move the nation forward, noting that those saying the contrary are being mischievous or economical with the truth.
In what was obviously a message to lift up the spirit of the congregation probably following the early result of the presidential elections that seems to go the way of the opposition, Okoye said, God puts people in authority urging the congregation to support them no matter the outcome.
The guest minister who was also Member, Presidential Advisory Council on Youths Affairs; Member, National Political Reform Conference (Representing Federal Capital Territory, Abuja); noted that people in their usual sycophantic nature will go to various places claiming they prayed and will want to take the glory as facilitators of victory when the result goes the way of the principal, urging President Jonathan not to make that mistake but attribute the victory (if he eventually wins) to God and not to man. According to him, “That is where we sin against God”.
He said further, “It’s God that puts people in authority and we have done all we have to do, we have to look to him (God) and I believe we are going to sing a new things”.
Okoye told Jonathan pointedly that even though he has performed, he must be told he made mistakes in certain areas which he did not name. He urged him to correct those mistakes should God give him the opportunity to return.
According to him, “If God gives us another opportunity there are three things we must do: One, we must acknowledge God as our source of victory and helper. Two, review all you have done in the past, learn from past mistakes because you have done well but you must admit you have made mistakes. Thirdly, repackage the mistakes you have made so that you can launch out in full force. Every leader in public office is in a position of trust we must account for the position we have been given and do things right”
“As a villa chaplain under Obasanjo, the third term agenda was not originally his idea, hence he rejected it when it was suggested. But those behind it went and repackaged and presented it to him and he bought it. When he told me, I kicked against it but before you knew it he was sidelining me and so I was forced to use the pulpit to tell him God was not with him on this matter because the idea was not God’s and that was why the idea failed.
“Thank God we have a president that says I want to serve but I’m not desperate. So it is not a question of do or die thing.
In his short remarks, the Aso Villa Chaplain, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, expressed happiness that the elections held despite wicked insinuations that the president didn’t want it to hold because he wanted to stay longer in power.
According to him, “It was said the President will not allow elections to hold because he wanted to hold unto power but it held. A friend of mind sent me a text that God has chosen who will govern before the foundation of the world and we just voted to authenticate that person.
He described as callous where somebody else who had similar experience like the President whose permanent voters card was not recognised by the card reader was denied from voting.
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