by ‘Jola Sotubo

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the insecurity currently plaguing the country would not stop the conduct of elections next year.

The president is said to have stated this at the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja.

He also added that the terrorism unleashed on the nation by Boko Haram was meant to bring down his government.

Daily Times reports:

He said the nation would continue to move forward, notwithstanding the setbacks occasioned by the terrorists’ activities.

“I can assure you that 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, a journalist asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria, and 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 said.

Jonathan said Nigeria would overcome every dark forces facing it, in spite of forces of development as well as forces of retrogression operating in the country.He thanked all the religious faiths for their prayers for the administration and the country at large, saying this had kept the nation together.

“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,’’ Jonathan said.

He said his administration’s Transformation Agenda was not a mere campaign promise, but had yielded visible dividends and positive developments in every sector in the past three years.

Congregational prayers were offered for security, peace and development, as well as for the victims and families of recent bomb blasts. Prayers were also said for the successful search for and rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls, as well as for President Jonathan and his family and the three arms of government.

The service was attended by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, the President’s mother, Madam Eunice, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

Others in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and presidential aides.