No individual, group can hold Nigeria to ransom - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said no individual or group of persons can hold the nation to ransom.


He said although the nation under his leadership was facing challenges, he was confident that Nigeria would overcome.

Jonathan spoke during a brief programme organised to mark his 57th birthday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

To move the nation forward, the President urged Nigerians to cooperate with him, work hard and pray.

He said, “Though we are facing challenges, we shall surely overcome, God will see us through.

“No one individual or group of individuals can hold this nation to ransom.

“Let us be together and work hard, and pray to God and surely all of us will take this nation to where we should be.”

The birthday was marked with a short holy communion service inside the President’s official residence.

The service was officiated by his Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba.

Jonathan, joined by his wife, Patience, and his mother, Eunice later proceeded to cut his birthday cakes.

Earlier in a short exhortation, Onwuzurumba noted that when God’s hand is on a man, there is nothing opposition can do.

He said, “It is my joy to know that God has chosen His Excellency to direct the affairs of this country and certainly there will be and always be opposition‎.

“One thing I know and I’m sure you’ll agree with me is that when God’s hand is upon a man, when God has selected you, it doesn’t matter from what stock he has come from, God will protect him, God will reveal himself.

“So it is His Excellency’s birthday, I think it is only proper that we pray in this light that God who has called you from such a remote place, a remote tribe of all the many tribes of Nigeria, that He who has called you even though we know you reluctantly so to speak, have come to take this position‎, He will give you valiant men, those who have good hearts, not political criminals, not people who have chameleonised themselves just for political gain, but those whose hearts are right with God that they can work with you to able to achieve the purpose for which God has choosen you.”

Onwuzurumba’s wife read the only lesson of the service from 1 Samuel 10:14-26.

Special prayers were made for the President, his wife, family members and the nation.