PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, gave insight into why his administration appears to be slow to react to issues, saying that he takes his time to avoid costly mistakes.He said during the New Year Service at the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, that since he realised that any wrong move could be costly for the well-being of Nigerians, he needed to be sure of the steps he was taking.'When I'm challenged I think more; I don't rush to take decisions. I listen more to people. That is why, at times, it looks as if I'm slow. I also know that when people rush to take decisions, they also make a lot of mistakes. A lot of people only celebrate their successes and not their mistakes,' he said.The president called for more prayers for the country to overcome its challenges in 2012, even as he assured that the New Year 'is the year of turning point in Nigeria's history.'Jonathan, who regretted that in spite of the fact that Nigeria gained its independence 51 years ago but was lagging behind its contemporaries in development was confident that in 2012 'collectively we will change history. When you compare Nigeria to other nations, Nigeria is not moving fast enough.'He added: 'I promise we will work with all Nigerians to see how things can be done differently. We have our challenges and that is where the devil comes in and put roadblocks.'So I assure this congregation that we will work with all Nigerians in 2012, because this is a new government, not completely new because I was the vice-president of the former government before I took over to complete the four years. But the government [for which] I contested an election really promised Nigerians a lot of things and in 2012, we are going to start with a fresh budget.'The budget I took over from in 2011 was a transitional budget. This is the first budget that will be built on our vision and commitment for this country and God willing, we will follow it to the letter. And with your cooperation and prayers, this country will begin to witness things differently.'The journey will be tough, it's not going to be too painful anyway, because I also know that leaders who bring pain on the people always end up badly. Leaders who think they are so powerful always end up badly and no leader will want to be seen as one who brought pain to the people.'We are all writing our history. Whatever you sow as a leader, even if you are dead and gone, the story will be told how you brought pain on the people, so nobody will bring pains on Nigerians.'So, our commitment is that by May 29, 2015, Nigerians will look back and say we made the right choice by voting for people who have done well for us. Because we have also looked at the elections. Our court processes have affirmed that it was an election all of you worked for: The first time we will conduct election with minimal controversies.'Of course there were crises but we knew why they came up. It was not because of the elections.'The president explained the difference between the 2007 and the 2011 elections, noting that while there was division among court judges over the 2007 election, the Appeal and Supreme Court judges were unanimous in the fair conduct of the 2011 elections.'They said our opponents had no case. That shows clearly Nigerians voted for us. The people put us there and in the next three years, we must satisfy the people. There will be no excuse not to satisfy the people. So, that this your vision 'my year of blessings' will come to pass,' he said.In his sermon, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Reverend Israel Adelani Akanji, urged Nigerians to forget the past because God would do new things in their lives and in the country.
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