I’ll speak at the right time, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday promised to break his silence on his experience in office and other sundry issues at the appropriate time. He however did not give any indication on when the appropriate time would be. Jonathan made the promise when State House correspondents approached him for interview at the end of the Good Friday Service organised by the Aso Villa Chapel. “Don’t worry, I will talk to you at the appropriate time,” the President said amidst smile as he made his way from the chapel to his official residence. He was accompanied to the about three-hour service that featured the Seven Words of Christ on the Cross by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John-Kennedy Okpara. The seven short exhortations that accompanied the seven lessons all centred on the sacrifice the preachers said Jonathan made to keep the county united. They likened his decision to concede defeat in last Saturday’s presidential election and congratulate the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of the All Progressives Congress, to the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to safe mankind. All the preachers agreed that that bold step, taken by the President at the appropriate time, was commendable. They urged him to remain focus because his future is in the hands of God. “This man (Jonathan) said here that he is the most criticised President and he prophesied that by the time he will be leaving, he will be the most celebrated President. That has come to pass with the way he is being celebrated worldwide for conceding defeat,” one of the clergymen, who led intercessory prayers, said. The service also featured renditions of special hymns as well as intercessory prayers for the President, for peace and for the country at large. Apart from Dickson and Okpara, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Joan Ayo; Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Ima Niboro; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, also attended the service. Wife of the President, Patience; and his mother, Eunice, were however absent. Both of them had hitherto been accompanying Jonathan to such service. The service saw only the first three rows of both sides of the chapel occupied by worshippers.