Jonathan slams critics of his style of governance.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday chided critics of his style and government, accusing them of trying to force him to act in ways that were contrary to his nature. 

The President also noted that while he was condemned at home, he was celebrated outside the shores of the country.

“Some Nigerians still want the President of this country to be a lion or a tiger; somebody that has the kind of strength, force and agility to make things happen the way they think. 

“I don’t need to be a lion, I don’t need to be Nebuchadnezzar, I don’t need to operate like the Pharaoh of Egypt, and I don’t need to be an army general. I can change this country without those traits,” he said.

Jonathan spoke at an inter-denominational service to mark the nation’s 51st independence anniversary at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday. 

At least 10 people died during the 50th Independence anniversary in Abuja, last year, when twin bomb explosions went off near the Eagle Square venue of the event in Abuja. 

The incidences of bombing have grown since then with the Islamic violent sect, Boko Haram, prosecuting a campaign of bombing against the Federal Government. Analysts and critics of the government have expressed worries at what they considered the failure of the Federal Government to take decisive actions to tackle the worsening insecurity in the country.

The President, who read the second reading during the service, described such critics as Nigerians who wanted a leader who would rule with impunity.

He said, “Some others will want the President to operate like an Army general, like my Chief of Army Staff commanding his troops. Incidentally, I am not a lion; I am also not a general. 

“Somebody will want the President to operate like the Kings of Syria, Babylon, Egypt, and the Pharaoh-all powerful people that you read about in the Bible. They want the President to operate that way, unfortunately, I am not one of those. 

“But God knows why I am here, even though I don’t have any of those attributes, or those kinds of characters I have used as an example. But through your prayers, God placed me here. The only thing I ask you to do for me, and that is the prayer I pray every time, is for God to use me to change this country.” 

The President said there were forces that were bent on frustrating his administration, adding that these enemies must be dealt with for the nation to move forward. 

“There are Goliaths everywhere; very terrible Goliaths, the ones that can even kill their father, their mother and even their children in order to stop government. And they are willing to do it. So, we have these terrible Goliaths that are trying to frustrate us, but surely with God we will conquer them.

“Every Goliath has an exposed forehead; all the Goliaths that are stumbling blocks to the development and growth of this country, God will expose their foreheads for the stone of David,” he declared. 

The President urged Christians to continue to pray for his administration as there are many people, especially politicians who do not want the government to make any “meaningful progress.” 

Specifically, he asked Nigerians to pray that God should use him to change the country. 

The President, who appeared to be concerned about recent criticisms of his government, chided Nigerians for criticizing him, while world leaders such as President Barak Obama and others kept commending him. 

He said, “You know, these days, for you to be an intellectual and for people to listen to you, you have to abuse government. Somebody was asking, is Nigeria on auto pilot? Meaning a plane without a pilot, and I say Nigeria is being piloted by God himself, 

“I just returned from the United Nations General Assembly in the US. (Barak) Obama, when he spoke, commended Nigeria, but back home we are being abused. When we had the Security Council meeting outside the General Assembly, Nigeria was commended, but here we are being abused. 

“When the Presidents of South Africa, Gabon spoke they commended Nigeria but here we are not being appreciated. But what I can assure you is that Nigeria is on course and with your prayers and guidance of God, we will surely get to the destination we are going.”