The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a gift to the church. The Church, Tuesday, conferred Primantial award to the President on what it called excellence in Christ stewardship.
Conferring the award at the Presidential Villa, the Most Reverend Nicholas D. Okoh, the Arch Bishop of the Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria praised God “for his gift to us in the Church of Nigeria.”
Reverend Okoh who led several other Bishops to the Villa said that President has been promoting God’s work and developing the country, saying: “this amiable, humble, unassuming but principled servant of God placed his talent, time, temple (of his body) and competence at the disposal of the Church and, has in no small measures, made outstanding contributions to bringing the Church and our nation to where it is today.
“By his Christian conviction, character, conduct, confession and competence, he exhibited commendable Christian stewardship and now today the Primate, on behalf of all Anglican faithful nationwide and in conformity with cherished biblical counsel and Christian heritage, has resolved that this our beloved servant leaders be conferred with the Primatial Award of excellence in Christian stewardship.”
Responding, President Jonathan said that he grew up as a member of the Anglican Church, saying that as at that time, it was only Anglican Church that was in his tiny village.
“But now, I don’t know the number of churches that are there. Almost all the classrooms are churches now. I have been a part of the church from the beginning. I attended Anglican Primary School as a pupil. So I have to be very grateful to the Anglican Church that brought me up. I am what I am today because of the Anglican Church.
“I also use this opportunity to thank Christian and other religious bodies that constantly pray for this country. Our country is passing through challenges. The whole world is passing through challenges. Sometimes, when I listen to the news around the whole world, it reminds me about the Old Testament in days of fighting, fighting and fighting.
“And I always ask: Do we stop fighting? But God has a reason for everything. I believe whatever is happening to Nigeria will be very temporary. We will go through the challenges. With your prayers, we will go through the challenges.
“For me and the vice president as well as the federal government, by the grace of God and the willingness of Nigerians, we will do our best to improve the quality of lives of our people. We have our transformation agenda. It is not something we can do overnight even if you have all the money in the world. If you want to build a six-storey building, you must give yourself a period that must be a time for you to complete that project.”
President Jonathan said that his government has drawn a map and hase progressed, adding: “I believe we are progressing in the right direction.
“For you to really build a society, you need to do things that are critical and continue to do them well. And those things we now changed the world that we are. If we take issues of econony, transport infrastructure, those things that will improve on the economy. And if the government continues to do those things very well, it would not take a lifetime for this country to change. It would not take more than ten years. Within a space of ten years, you would see major changes
“We are totally committed to doing our best to improve on the quality of lives of our people. All what we require from you as spiritual fathers is to pray for us for God to give us the wisdom and mind to do what is right because it takes on God to lead.
“Without the fear of God, nobody can lead well. We are all humans. We are pushed into all kinds of situations. But if God is with you, no matter the challenges, no matter the circumstances you find yourselves. My prayer everyday is for God to use me to improve this country positively. “And I believe that is why I am here today.”
The President said that nobody can tell about his political journey and without God, he would not have been where he is today “because most people know about it, but maybe when I leave office, that is when I will tell the true story of my journey. But I believe very clearly that it is God that made it possible. To even be a deputy governor in the first place, not to talk about being a president. I promise I will do my best.”
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