Insecurity won’t stop 2015 elections, says By Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan assured yesterday that the challenges facing the country will not stop the 2015 general elections from holding.
He gave the assurance while speaking at the 2014 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja.
According to him, next year’s Democracy Day will witness a new government.
He said: “After today, the next democracy day will witness a new government. I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, and a pressman asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria, I told him there would be elections in this country.”
“This country will continue to move forward in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing.”
The President also noted that the insecurity in the country spearheaded by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, was meant to bring down his government if not for God’s interventions.
He thanked the congregation for their prayers, noting that without their prayers, Nigeria would have suffered more from its share of the global terror.
Stressing that there are two types of forces operating in the country, forces of development and forces of retrogression (evil) – Jonathan was optimistic that Nigeria will overcome the dark forces.
He said: “Without your prayers, it would have been worse. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security men.”
“All these distractions were planned to bring this government down. Since they failed, terror will also fail. Forces of darkness will never prevail over light. I call on all Nigerians to continue to pray and with God on our side, we shall overcome,” he added.
He thanked God for 15 unbroken years of democracy.
Stressing that his administration’s transformation policies were not mere campaign promises, he said his administration recorded great achievements in rail, roads, airports, agriculture, petroleum, power, industry and housing.
Delivering the message yesterday, Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme took the congregation through Phillipians 2: 9, Esther 4: 13, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
He noted that the circumstances Nigeria finds herself are similar to the period of Mordecai recorded in Esther 4: 13.
Stressing that Nigeria is at a defining moment, he said: “The dark moment we find ourselves now will surely transform to greatness.
“It is when the time is darkest that God chooses to reveal His glory. I believe Nigeria will arise. A new Nigeria is about to be born.
“Nigeria is simply experiencing child labour that will give way to the birth of a great nation,” he said
Pastor Ekwueme urged everyone to be ready to make sacrifice in the midwifery that will result in the birth of a new great Nigeria.
But he warned that three things must be done before the rebirth – genuine repentance, fear of the Almighty God and offer of a united prayer unto the Lord as a church.
Senate President David Mark took the Scriptural Reading II from the book of Luke Chapter 10, verses 25 to 37.
Intercessory prayers were said for the nation, security, peace and development as well as victims and families of recent bomb blasts.
Prayers were also said for successful search and rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls and for the President and his family and the three arms of the government.
Among the dignitaries at the church service were the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the President’s mother, Eunice, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.
Others are Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of State Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Olajumoke Akinjide, members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and heads of government agencies.