President Goodluck Jonathan has said Nigera will become a better place in the next four to five ears.
He said that Nigeria was steadily making progress as a result of the policies of his administration.
The President spoke at the Christ Apostolic Church, Garki Area 1, Abuja, where he observed his last Sunday church service for the year.
Even as he expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome its challenges, he said that 2015, which is an election year, will be a tempting one.
The President later yesterday afternoon left Abuja for a private visit to the United Kingdom.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President was accompanied on the trip by some of his principal staff and personal aides.
Jonathan is expected back in Abuja today ahead of official engagements at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, including scheduled audiences with groups from Delta and Lagos states.
Speaking at the church service, Jonathan said: “As a nation, we have not reached where we want to go; definitely not. But we are coming up with a number of policies. Those who are taking pain to look at what we are doing will agree with us that if we progress as a nation steadily in this manner, in the next four or five years, this country will be a better place.
“Only a few days back, the Vice President was in Port Harcourt to flag off the Eastern railway. The Western one moving from Lagos to Kano has been running. We will start using the modern one from Kaduna to Abuja by the first quarter of next year and the one from Port Harcourt.
“When we were small, there were railways. But I believe most of our children of about 30 years only see railway as cartoons in the television but now, they are seeing it.
“We relied on agriculture before the oil boom or doom and all that died. We are reviving it and the whole world has appreciated that we are moving forward in agriculture.”
He went on: “When they start something, people do not see the benefits immediately. We know that as a nation, we have a lot of challenges in terms of getting jobs for our young graduates and we have set up a lot of programmes that can bring job opportunities for our young men. The result may not be obvious immediately but God willing, job opportunities will continue to increase and many more young people will be engaged.”
On falling oil prices, he said: “We have talked about the drop in global price of oil. Of course, if there is a drop in oil price, it will affect us in one way or the other. We tell our people to bear with us. It has happened before in 2008, 2009 that was almost about $40, we survived as a nation.”
The President reassured Nigerians that the falling oil prices will not go as low as $40 and that Nigeria will survive it.
According to him, his economic team is already working very hard to stabilise it.
He said: “Although there may be temporary inconveniences, it will definitely not bring the economy down.”
Stressing that 2015 is a tempting year, Jonathan said: “Elections year in Third World countries is always a turbulent year with all kinds of predictions. I, however, believe that the God who brought us to this level will see us through.”
He urged the congregation to continue to pray for politicians from all political parties.
The President said: “Pray for God to guide us in our utterances and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of Nigerians because of our ambitions. Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
“Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the country ablaze because of our own personal ambition.”
“There are so many good Nigerians that can hold the offices we are occupying or aspiring to occupy; it is by privilege of God that we are here in positions to ask for the mandates of Nigerians.”
He went on: “None of us should begin to think that he is the best person to be anywhere from state houses of assembly to the president. There are a thousand and one Nigerians that are super qualified more than those people who are even aspiring to occupy offices.
“If the idea is to help the people, grow the economy and make the people happy, you won’t want to kill, you won’t want to maim or burn down houses, vehicles and property. Human beings may see things differently but God can guide us.”
He noted that instead of the challenges abating, the problems started increasing for one reason or the other.
“But I am convinced that it would have been worse than this but for your prayers. With the prayers you continue to offer to God, God will see us through, he said, adding:
“I always say that whenever I read the Bible, especially the Old Testament, particularly the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land, the kind of challenges they faced; the confrontation, the wars up to the days of King David, people were always fighting and you will ask why children of God will continue to be fighting.”
“I believe what is even happening to us is not even as serious as sometimes the passages we read in the Bible and God was able to see them through.”
“The God we believe will see us through. What I will request from you is to continue to pray for us. For me and members of my team, in spite of the challenges, we will continue to do our best.” he stated
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