Ship Of Nigerian State, On Course –Jonathan

Wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi (2nd left), President, Medical Women Association, Rivers State Chapter, Dr Olukunmi Ijeruh (left) Chairman Committee on Health, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Irene Inimgba (2nd right) and President-elect, Dr Gracia Eke, during the Association’s visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, recently.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, assured Nigerians that “the ship of state’’ was on course with the return of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Jonathan was reacting to President Yar’Adua’s return in the early hours of Wednesday, from Saudi Arabia where he had been on medical vacation since Nov. 23, 2009.
His reaction was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, and made available to State House correspondents in Abuja.
According to the statement, Jonathan thanked Nigerians for their prayers both for the president and for the nation.
It quoted him as saying that the president’s return attested to the fact that “God heard and harkened to the prayers of the Nigerian people over the President’s health’’.
“The Acting President called on Nigerians to continue to earnestly strive for the well being of the nation.
“He noted that it is at times like this that all patriots must rise to the occasion, and place the interest of the country above every other consideration,’’ the statement said.
It further quoted Jonathan as saying that Nigeria was still battling with the pains of development and progress and that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the integrity of the nation was maintained at all times.
The statement said Jonathan urged Nigerians to continue to work for peace, security and stability of the country.
“Nigerians have only one country that they can call their own and must therefore single mindedly pursue national interest at all times,” it quoted him as saying.
In a related development, PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor Wednesday, in Abuja described President Umaru Yar’Adua’s return to the country as a testimony that God heard Nigerians’ prayers for his quick recovery.
“We, therefore, rejoice with our fellow citizens for this unique favour done to us by the Almighty God,’’ Ogbulafor said in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai  Alkali.
He congratulated Acting President Goodluck Jonathan for successfully holding the fort while Yar’Adua was away.
“We wish to restate that he discharged his duties with distinction as he, along with the Executive Council of the Federation, ensured that there were no gaps in the affairs of government.
“We also wish to use this opportunity to commend the leadership and members of the National Assembly, the Governors Forum, elder statesmen, the Judiciary, the Armed Forces, socio-cultural groups and members of the media for ensuring the triumph of constitutionalism, while the president was away,’’ Ogbulafor added.
He described the last three months as “trying times for our democracy and we are proud that in all of these, commitment to the integrity of our unity as a nation, our Constitution and our Democracy was not compromised’’.
He pledged PDP’s determination to continue to provide political leadership and guidance to ensure that all organs of government continue to work in harmony for the smooth running of the country.