Jonathan tasks politicians on forgiveness, reconciliation

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday urged politicians in the country to imbibe the habit of forgiveness and reconciliation in the interest of national development.
The President gave the advice in Abuja at the Aso Villa Chapel’s first service in 2014, which coincided with the special thanksgiving service of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission.
The President stressed the need for forgiveness, saying it was one of the secrets of success by any leader.
According to him, a politician is expected to have a natural spirit of forgiveness and those who cannot forgive should not be in politics.
Jonathan said: “I want to disagree with the primate that politicians do not forgive.
“I believe that politicians are indeed those set of people that forgive the most.
“The issue is that most of us in politics, about 50 per cent of politicians today, are not supposed to be in it.
“Some are in politics because there is nothing else for them to do.
“There is this popular saying that in politics there is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy.
“What is permanent is interest.
“So all politicians must forgive.
“Otherwise, how do you work with people?”
Jonathan also urged Nigerians to pray for the leadership of the country at all levels and remain focused as government was determined to address the various issues affecting them.
Earlier in his message, the Primate of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, had called for cohesion and discipline among the ruling class in the country.
Okoh, who spoke on the theme: “Forget not all his benefits,” said that the myriad of challenges confronting Nigeria would not be tackled effectively if leaders remained divided and ungrateful to God.
He said that working in disunity was a demonstration of ungratefulness to God for His blessings to man and urged Nigerians to desist from such acts.
The primate said that the issues militating against Nigeria’s growth and development were such that required total commitment by both leaders and the led, for them to be resolved.
Okoh also called on Nigerians to embrace the proposed national conference by the Federal Government, noting that it was in the interest of Nigeria’s progress.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, John-Kennedy Opara, said the thanksgiving was in appreciation to God for the success of the 2013 Christian pilgrimage and prayers for the smooth conduct of the 2014 exercise.
Opara said the fact that no casualty was recorded in the course of transporting pilgrims to and from the Holy Land in 2013 was enough to thank God.
He urged wealthy individuals in the society to help to sponsor those who were not so privileged to actualise their dreams of embarking on the holy pilgrimage.
Jonathan, his wife and family, presidential aides, ministers, legislators and members of the villa chapel attended the service.