The Presidential Villa recently hosted the second edition of the Presidential National Prayer Breakfast meeting, which provided an opportunity for men of God to join President Goodluck Jonathan in prayers for the success of his administration. Leon Usigbe writes that Jonathan's present position requires that he should be spiritually endowed for his task.PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is looking drained; an apparent effect from the pressure of his office.His physical state is probably an outward manifestation of the struggles he goes through within himself, trying to manage the complex socio-economic situation of the present-day Nigeria. No one says it would be easy leading Africa's most populous country even at its most peaceful and prosperous times, let alone now when the country is in distress, faced with problems of unimaginable proportions. Jonathan knew what he was getting himself into when he sought to be the president of the country. He was aware of the physical, mental and spiritual challenges of the office, the constant battle that individuals in that position are involved in just so as to contain the forces that are perpetually exerting and exacting varying demands. There is the question of the economy that is defying all known theoretical and practical remedies applied to breathe fresh air into it; sabotage, and basic infrastructures not improving in spite of the huge amount of resources that have been pumped into them. The Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, has come to add an unexpected new twist to the whole gamut and poor Nigerians are crying under increased yoke of deteriorating living conditions while the opposition is having a field day ripping apart a 'clueless' Presidency even when it is not capable of offering a viable alternative.It is understandable that former President Olusegun Obasanjo survived for eight years largely unscathed and was ready for more. That he was a soldier trained to endure tough battles may have something to do with it. It is also understandable if late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua did not complete his tenure before he succumbed to his long-term ailment. The pressure of the office was probably too much for his fragile frame to bear. Jonathan is neither a trained soldier nor did he come into office with any known physical challenge, but he is all the same confronted with the usual headache of Nigerian leaders. How he handles it not only physically and mentally but also spiritually will undoubtedly be significant in the success or otherwise of his Presidency.The president was heavily involved in the politics of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to select a new national chairman. It was a long drawn out process that saw him presiding over almost daily late night meetings towards the evolution of a consensus position on the contentious issue. So, after the hard day's job of attending to national concerns in the office, rather than retire to sleep at night, he went into meetings that lasted virtually all through the night, only for him to return to the office the next day with little or no time to rest. This may be a common attitude of politicians in the country, but his own certainly has a graver dimension as he has to work extra hard to fulfil the mandate given to him by the Nigerian people. Jonathan made election promises which he must strive to fulfil but should this be at the expense of his physical wellbeing' Under normal circumstances, the answer should be no. However, there is a problem in the structure of the Presidency where it would appear that the president must personally superintend over issues for them to achieve the desired results. The solution to this may be in the development of strong national institutions which he himself has advocated such that it may not require the president's personal input for things to be done the right way. There are too many forces at play, many wanting to see the downfall of the president. Part of the reason Christian leaders in the country intervened last Saturday was to tackle the spiritual aspect of President Jonathan's heavy burden, to help him overcome such forces that may be arrayed against him. It was at the Second National Prayer breakfast meeting which held in the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.Aso Rock Chapel Chaplain, Reverend Obioma Onwurumba, provided what seemed a justification for the gathering of men of God, politicians, judicial officers, captains of industry and ordinary citizens to pray for the President. He recalled in his opening remarks that when the result of the April 2011 presidential election was declared and Jonathan emerged with the overwhelming endorsement of the majority of the voters, all hell was let loose. The chaplain pointed out that up till, now the situation has not completely changed. Every member of the the clergy who prayed at the occasion did not loose sight of the need for the president to be spiritually fortified to withstand the threat of the evil ones. From John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja Diocese, through Bishop David Abioye, Arch Bishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Anglican Communion, to Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), it was important for the president to call on to God for direction to enable him to do what the vast majority of the electorate want him to achieve.The Vice President of Kenya, Dr. Kalonzo Musyoka, who took the second lesson from the Book of Timothy Chapter 2 verses 1 to 8, spoke of how much he wanted the Transformation Agenda of President Jonathan to succeed, as he observed that the transformation of Nigeria would mean the transformation of Kenya and the whole of Africa. The immense significance of the occasion was brought home by Pastor Oristejafor in his exhortation based on Judges Chapter 6.The pastor saw Nigeria as a great nation which was not behaving great; a nation with talent but begging for ideas to survive; a rich nation yet poor. He attributed this to the fact that many men and women were offering sacrifices on strange altars. In his opinion, one of the greatest things to have happened to Nigeria is Jonathan's Transformation Agenda but in order to succeed, men and women must constantly go to God with their conscience.He observed that conscience was presently missing in the country, which explained why somebody could have the heart to keep N2 billion of pensioners' money in his private house whereas the pensioners are dying on queue to receive their pittance; that is why people travel abroad to treat headache and that is why people will have no scruples detonating bombs to kill innocent human beings.He told Jonathan to take his Transformation Agenda to God, noting that even though there is frustration among Christians who think that God is no longer answering their prayers since the more they pray the more the bombs are detonated, Christians must not judge God's ability by what they see.'You may see Boko Haram today, it will change; you may see corruption and greed today, it will change. The hand of God is over Nigeria and nobody can stop the hand of God,' the man of God declared.The president gave thanks to God for the collective supplication to Him in the form of the national prayer meeting, especially as it was coming at 'a period of serious security and developmental challenges for our near nation.' He said however that daunting as these challenges may be, he trusted 'in the efficacy of the Bible truth that the prayer of righteousness avails much.' The President expressed the belief that there is nothing God cannot do that saying, 'with Him on our side, I am confident every stumbling block on our way shall become a stepping stone into national rebirth.
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