President Goodluck Jonathan has urged elderly politicians in the country to promote peace and unity through their utterances.
He gave the advice on Sunday while speaking at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
Although he did not mention the name of the elderly politicians,he said that senior citizens in the age bracket of 70 or 80yrs who have seen it all and ought to know that the unity of Nigeria is more important than any individual interest have encouraged youth to hate and carry arms to kill others.
Stressing that his ambition doesn’t worth bloodshed of any Nigerian, the President also advised those decamping to decamp well or those camping to camp well.
He said: “We are also to emulate them. Those who have paid supreme sacrifice to keep out nation together, those of us who are alive especially leaders today should think of what we can do to honour them is to know that whatever we say, whatever song we sing, it should be a song that will bring honour to them and peace to this country.”
“Sometimes I get worried when I listen to provocative statements that come from very senior citizens. People that ordinarily you perceive are very senior citizens. People who are probably 70 or 80 years who have seen it all who ordinarily should know the unity of this country is more important than the interest any individual.
Sometimes they preach hate and even encourage young people to carry arms and kill themselves.”
Speaking on his ambition, he said: “I have always said it that any ambition I have at any time is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I will never ever expect a Nigerian to spill a drop of his blood because Goodluck Jonathan must fulfil his ambition.”
“I pray that all politicians should know that there will be no nation if we kill ourselves, just like the Archbishop said if you want people to come out and vote why do you threaten them. If you threaten them people will stay in their houses and how do you intend to win election? Is it by manipulating the figures and declare yourself a winner?” He queried
Jonathan continued: “So in an occasion when we are remembering those people that have kept this country one for us to be celebrating our centenary we should admonish ourselves the key actors today, we should preach peace, we should preach unity.”
“If all of us collectively talk about the unity and peace of this country then of course all our economic, security problems will be resolved and the country will move in the direction we want it to.”
“For the guest speaker we thank God for your message, the admonition when he was talking about those who want to camp should camp well and those who want to decamp should decamp well.”
“Pray for us to always remember our fathers because we are in a political environment and politicians always have ambitions, we really appreciate your prayers.” He said
He thanked the churches for their prayers noting that the challenges facing the country within the global trend could have been worse than what it is today.
“Nigeria would have been two or more nations by now. But they worked for it, some died in the process, some died serving the world outside . These are the people we are remembering today.” He stated
The President had earlier read the second Bible reading from Ephesians Chapter 6, verses 10 to 19a.
Delivering his sermon before the President spoke, the Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Abuja, Archbishop Job Oche advised politicians ahead of the 2015 elections to stop threatening Nigerians with their utterances as they will not come out to vote if they feel threatened.
He said: “May I advise all politicians here to give us peace of mind. People have started to fear how 2015 will look like. If you need our votes, don’t threaten us. Begin to preach peace that will make us to come out and vote.”
“Leave 2015 alone, God knows what to do with 2015. Leave the problems of tomorrow for tomorrow. Stop destroying one another because of ambition.
According to him, the church has little to say on the camping and decamping by politicians stressing that ministers are also involved in decamping as some of them leave their churches after few months to set up their churches.
He said: “On camping and decamping, the church has no answer to that because the church is also involved in camping and decamping. If after three or six months, a minister builds his own church, is that not decamping?”
Noting that all rebellion can not stand the test of time, he said: “whether you camp or decamp, the Most High God will speak. Ambition knows no father.”
Taking the congregation through Hebrews chapter 11 from verse 13, 2nd Timothy 4: 7, he urged Nigerians to do everything possible to keep Nigeria one so that the labour of past heroes will not be in vain.
To keep Nigeria one, he urged them to contribute their quota instead of criticising the leaders.
Calling on Nigerians to see the ongoing developments in the power sector, transportation, reducing unemployment rate and fight against corruption, he urged politicians to stop recruiting thugs and hired assassins in order to create a special place for themselves in politics.
Also urging Nigerians to rebuke those who are power drunk, he pleaded with politicians to stop utterances that are capable of weakening the leaders, just as he advised Nigerians to perpetually love one another instead of hatred for other tribes or religion.
He prayed that the peace of God will continue to prevail in Nigeria as the 2015 elections approaches.
Some men of God at the service were also given opportunity to pray for wisdom and protection of the President and his family and the nation.
One minute silence was observed in honour of the departed souls.
Among those who attended the service included the Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Jonathan’s mother, Eunice, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih.
Also at the service are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim, Pius Anyim, many ministers and other top government officials. Many widows, widowers and children and relatives of the departed souls also attended the service.