President Goodluck Jonathan returned yesterday to Aso Villa, 24 hours after voting in the general elections at his Otuoke, Bayelsa State hometown.
He attended a church service to mark the Palm Sunday. Guest minister and Founding General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission, Abuja, Rev. William Okoye, cautioned politicians that results of the general election should be accepted, adding that “It should not be a do-or-die “ matter.
Rev. Okoye was a one-time Aso Villa Chaplain.
Before this time, the Chapel was always filled beyond capacity anytime President Jonathan was worshiping there.
But those in attendance yesterday besides the choir, did not exceed the first three rows on both sides. Workers and few security aides and reporters occupied the last seats.
Rev. Okoye maintained that those alleging that President Jonathan did not perform in his four years were either being mischievous or economical with the truth.
According to him, Jonathan’s achievements are glaring for all to see.
He was confident that the outcome of the election will be in Jonathan’s favour.
Rev. Okoye, who was the Chaplain of the Chapel between 1999 and 2007, insisted that there was nothing the Jonathan administration has not done to develop the nation.
Towards lifting up the spirit of the worshippers following the early result of the presidential elections which is going the way of the opposition, Rev. Okoye said, God puts people in authority.
He also 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 principle.
The former Chaplain of the Presidential Villa during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime and the Founding General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission, Abuja, William Okoye, pointedly told President Goodluck Jonathan that he made mistakes in office and urged him to correct those mistakes if he wins the presidential election.
In a sermon to mark Palm Sunday, Okoye said though Jonathan has achieved so much in office, many Nigerians do not seem to appreciate these achievements stating that the disposition by Jonathan that he was not desperate to remain in office was a welcome relief as he does not see politics as a do or die affair.
“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” he said.
He noted that those who said 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.
According to him, if performance was a yardstick for election, Jonathan’s performance would have guaranteed a sure victory, adding that Nigerians have done their bit by voting while the rest now lies in God’s hands.
He admonished Jonathan 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 principle, urging President Jonathan not to make that mistake but attribute the victory (if he eventually wins) to God and not to man.
“It is 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 song. Thank God we have a President who wants to serve and not engage in do or die politics. Some of us were here during the third term agenda and I kicked against it from this alter. 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. This election is not a do or die. If we loss we will go and use the experience to serve humanity. So there is nothing to worry about. I know with what this government has done if given opportunity in another four years Nigeria will be better. That is why we are not to be proud because God resist the proud,” he added.
