President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday urged Nigerians to pray more for his incoming successor, Gen Muhammadu Buhari than for him.??
Speaking at the 2015 presidential thanksgiving and inauguration service held at the National Ecumenical Center, Abuja, Jonathan noted that the incoming leaders would be saddled with managing the lives of all Nigerians and therefore require the prayers and support of all.
The theme of the service was: ?Give thanks in all Circumstances?.
He noted that on Friday he would hand over to Buhari and go into private life while Buhari and the incoming Vice President, Professor Yemi? Osibanjo, would begin to manage the country?s resources.He said: ?Pray more for the incoming government, we are going out to manage our private lives but they are coming to manage the nation?s wealth. All we need as Nigerians is unity and peace?.
Jonathan who explained that the service was actually for the incoming government, noted that he and his wife with other members of his cabinet were just there to say goodbye to Nigerians.
The event was also attended by Professor Osibanjo and his wife.
To Osinbajo, he said: ?in 2007, I was here just as you are. The difference is that it was a handover from PDP to PDP, now it is between PDP to APC.
He therefore thanked? Nigerians for their prayers which according to him have assisted greatly in major decisions he took while in office.
Osibanjo, accompanied by his wife during the service, led in praise and worship songs in the three Nigerian major languages.
He also prayed for God to grant mercy on the outgoing president and his family.
The Vice President-elect prayed that God would cause Nigeria to be what it was created to be as the new government takes over.
In his homily, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of Anglican Church if Nigeria extended gratitude to Nigerians who he said were the actual winners in the just-concluded elections.
Okoh who? centred his message on forgiveness, and giving thanks to God, said on the eve of leaving office, it was right for President Jonathan to reflect on what he had done wrong like King David in the Holy scriptures who would always seek forgiveness from God.??
?When we forgive ourselves and others, we set ourselves free?.
According to him, during the last election, many were offended in a costliest and toughest and most bitter campaign witnessed in the country.
Archbishop Okoh noted that while serving the country, God healed the outgoing President and his family many times when they were tired and stuck? in taking different decisions.
He also prayed that God would heal Nigeria and rebuild relationships among Nigerians.
?God saved our country from the prophesy of doom that we would disintegrate. Mr president, you have a crown of compassion and love, not of shame.
Other notable figures at the service? were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, former Bayelsa governor,? Timipre Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh who led other service chiefs , former Minister of Petroleum,? Professor Tam David West and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-?Oyegun.
