20110425
This Day

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to put the social upheavals that greeted the presidential election behind them and join hands with him to build a "Nigeria of our dreams".



He spoke Sunday in his home town, Otueke in Bayelsa State, at a reception in his honour for his success at the presidential election where he regretted that the day that would have been for celebrations was puckered by the spate of violence that greeted the poll.

Jonathan, who called for a minute silence, regretted the loss of lives and property, but asked everyone to put the sad incident behind them and fall in line to rebuild the nation.

"This is the time to build and rebuild; time to support and we must join hands to build this country so that we will be respected in the country and outside this country", Jonathan said.

He particularly regretted the killing of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, but vowed he would do all within his powers to protect them so that they would no longer be targets of rioters as it happened during the election.

Jonathan said that despite the incidents, which tended to cast a slur on the election, it had been adjudged as free and fair and therefore credible and expressed gratitude to his kinsmen for appreciating the credible conduct.

"We will ensure that we will work so hard that this type of protests won't happen again. We will work hard to change the trend so that youths won't be used as cannon fodders for future violence," he said.

Speaking at the event, the state governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva, said he was in agreement with the president that in spite of the loss of lives, the exercise was credible and thanked Nigerians for supporting Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also speaking on behalf of indigenes of that community, Moses Otazi said the people were grateful to Nigerians who voted across all the geopolitical zones for their son.

In the same vein, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has called on Nigerians to eschew bitterness, recrimination and endeavour to forgive each other in the true spirit of the season of Easter.

"We must embrace, love and forgive each other, while singing praises to the Almighty God together for keeping us united as one strong and indivisible country in the face of adversity," he said

In his Easter message released in Benin City, the governor asked the citizenry to sustain the peaceful atmosphere that had attended the National Assembly and presidential elections by ensuring that tomorrow's governorship and House of Assembly elections were also conducted without any ugly incident.

"We must constantly remind ourselves that the 2011 election represents a golden opportunity for us to prove to the world that we can indeed get it right as a respected member of the comity of nations and begin the march to genuinely reclaim our leadership position as the giant of Africa," Oshiomhole said.

In a veiled reference to the violence in some parts of the North following the declaration of Jonathan as winner of the 2011 presidential election, Oshiomhole asked Nigerians to borrow from the travails and perseverance of the risen Christ and avoid all those things that could negate the development of the country.

"We need to put development of the country vigorously on the agenda and prove to the world that we have arrived to occupy our leadership position," he said.

In his message, Governor of the Benue State,Hon.Gabriel Suswam, urged Christians to be tolerant of divergent opinions in their daily affairs and to imbibe the forgiving spirit of Jesus Christ, which he exhibited even at the most trying moment of his crucifixion on the cross.

The governor condemned the post-election violence, which greeted the outcome of the April 16 presidential poll in some parts of the country, noting that it was high time Nigerian politicians learnt to accept the outcome of elections in the interest of the development of the country's democracy especially when the elections adjudged as the most credible and fairest in the recent political history of the country.

Meanwhile, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Sunday, advised governorship candidates and candidates to the state houses of assembly nationwide to accept results of the polls slated for tomorrow in good faith in order to move the nation forward.

Speaking through his special assistant, Pastor Sunday Akande, at Mount of Joy Parish Sabo-Oke, Ilorin, Kwara State on the occasion of Easter celebrations, Adeboye tasked the politicians to shun all actions that might hinder the conduct of the polls.

According to him, "All the politicians should understand that if two teams play, one is bound to win, as they are going to the playing ground whoever wins should be accepted; there is always a loser in every contest."

Adeboye also advised whoever wins to see himself as the representative of the people and not close their doors against the electorate; they should look back and do the will of God and the people.

He argued that with the fear of God in their heart, politicians could turn Nigeria for the better.

He expressed gratitude to God for the previous elections "that were successful and there is an assurance of God that the governorship election will be successful".

In a related development, Christians in Sokoto Sunday attended Easter mass in churches in the metropolis and its environs amid tight security provided by soldiers and riot policemen.

THISDAY checks in the metropolis Sunday revealed that some of the churches located on Bello Way and the old airport areas, among others, observed their mass in a peaceful atmosphere.

Some of the churches visited by THISDAY included Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Holy Family Catholic Cathedral and St. Paul Anglican Church, all in Sokoto.

Armed soldiers and riot policemen were seen patrolling the streets and also manning various check points.

THISDAY also observed that motorists were asked to open the booths of their cars for the stern-looking security men to ferret in order to fish out any possible explosives, weapons or arms.

Similarly, a team of Operation Wurjanjan - an outfit of the Sokoto State Police Command - was seen routinely patrolling the major streets of the city and its environs.

A pastor at the Catholic Cathedral, Sokoto, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that every Christian was expected to have the spirit of Christ in him and to have the life of Christ, which was characterised by humility.