Friends Have Now Deserted Me–Jonathan Laments

Like they always say, ‘success has many friends while failure is an orphan. This seems to be the real case with President Goodluck Jonathan, who has lamented that those that used to be around him have abandoned him since he lost his bid to get another term in office from Nigerian voters.

Speaking at the presidential prayer breakfast held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, an emotional President said the number of people now at the Villa have reduced.

He said even worshippers at the Aso Villa Chapel have dwindled, which he has not surprised him in anyway because it is expected to happen. Jonathan noted that this will continue till the next government takes over on May 29, 2015.

“Today (Friday), I expected a very low turn-out because in most cases, when a government is going, people reduce. You will notice that even the Aso Villa Chapel, the number of people that will be coming become less and less. But when I came in, I noticed that this whole hall is filled up.

“So, I have to sincerely thank all of you. We are all here because we believe in the power of prayers in nation building. The essence of the presidential prayer breakfast is to call on all Nigerians to come together and pray.

“For us to build Nigeria, we need these prayers. This should be captioned presidential breakfast prayer comprising all aspects of prayers for us to rebuild our nation.

“Yes, we have challenges as a nation, but every other nation passes through challenges,” said the President.

Speaking further at the occasion, which had Yakubu Gowon, Ernest Shonekan and others in attendance, Jonathan said, “I remember in 2009 when I visited the Nordic countries, they told me they were celebrating 200 years of peace that has enabled them to develop. Nigeria was 49 years old as an independent nation in 2009.”