Jonathan Marks Fifth ‘Birthday’ Anniversary

President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right), APC Taraba State governorship candidate in the April 11 election, Senator Aisha Alhassan (3rd left) and other delegates, during thier visit to the president-elect in Abuja, last Wednesday

Amidst drama that
stunned members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday marked the fifth birthday of his presidency.
The anniversary was, however, marked in a low-key with special prayers.
It would be recalled that Jonathan was sworn-in as President on May 6, 2010 by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, following the death of the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010.
In accordance with the nation’s constitution which recommends the Vice President take over leadership upon the death of the president, Jonathan who was Yar’Adua’s deputy for three years, served out his principal’s four-year tenure.
In 2011, Jonathan won the presidential election, but lost his re-election bid on March 28, this year to General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
President Jonathan on Wednesday took advantage of the weekly meeting of FEC which coincided with his fifth anniversary in office, to mark the events.
“Today, we will not say the national prayer. Somebody is celebrating birthday. So, we will offer special prayers for him. Two very godly people will pray, Nebo and Yuguda. Do you know the person (celebrant)?” the president had asked.
The FEC members who were obviously perplexed by the president’s question, turned to each other in utter amazement.
When it dawned on President Jonathan that the council members were bewildered and could not identify the celebrant, the president came to their aid, saying it was the anniversary of the presidency.
“On May 6, exactly five years today, I was sworn-in as substantive president,” he explained.
The president’s explanation and the drama that preceded it drew loud applause from the FEC members.
Thereafter, two ministers earlier called by President Jonathan to pray, Prof. Chinedu Nebo (Power) and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Minister of State for Finance) said special prayers for the president, his family and the nation at large.

Boye Salau