Obasanjo weeps
By Ben Agande
Posted to the Web: Monday, May 21, 2007



* Remembers late wife, Stella
* Prays: May Jonathan never be like Atiku

ABUJA — It was meant to be the official handing over of the Villa Chapel, a non-denominational Christian worship centre, by President Olusegun Obasanjo to the incoming Vice President Jonathan Goodluck.

But mid way into the event, a tough-talking President Obasanjo was overcome by emotion and wept as he imagined how his late wife, Stella, would by now, be superintending the packing of their personal effects from the Presidential Villa to Ota as they had planned.

And for the in-coming president, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, Obasanjo had only one prayer for him: “may Goodluck never be like Atiku” and the congregation made up of top government functionaries and guests of the in-coming Vice President chorused “amen.”

And last night on a chat programme of the Nigerian Television Authority, "The President Speaks", the President chided politicians who believed in the efficacy of juju.
The hand-over of the Aso Rock Chapel was the highlight of the weekly church servicewhich President Obasanjo started on his assumption of office.
Top government functionaries and friends and family members of the Vice President-elect, Dr Jonathan including his wife and mother were in the church to witness the ceremony.
Admonishing the Vice President-elect on the need to prepare himself for the enormous responsibility ahead as the leader of the Aso Rock Chapel, President Obasanjo prayed that God would enable him to discharge his duties in that regard creditably.

The president said the assurances given him by the President-elect, Alhaji Yar’Adua, a Muslim, that thechurch would be allowed to exist, emboldened him to hand over the chapel to Dr Jonathan.

He said unlike man, God could be trusted without any form of disappointment, recalling how he trusted his deputy, Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Then he said: “May Goodluck never behave like Atiku” towhich the congregation chorused “Amen.”.

While accepting the baton of change from the president, Dr Jonathan who was also accompanied to the church service by a sizeable number of bishops and pastors from his home state, Bayelsa, described yesterday as a special day in his life.

He said while it might be very difficult for him to fill the vacuum created by the out-going president, he promised to do his best to carry on with the assignment in the best possible way he could.”

Quoting from 1st Kings Chapter 3 verses 6-9, the Vice President-elect prayed God to strengthen him for the tasks ahead just as He was with his mentor, Obasanjo, whom he said, propped him up and put him in his present position.
In his sermon entitled: “Guaranteed key to continuity,” the Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, the Rev. WilliamOkoye, spoke of the importance of continuity in



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Jerrymania: From the look of things it seems that living in PH has made you lost your senses, if you don't have anything meaningful to say while not shut up your mouth, for wise and intelligent men to contribute to this post.

Look at you Mr know it all.

jerrymania:

ehm Bill Gates this should have been in the "Offtopic" board!

living in PH has made you lost your senses,. . . while not shut up your mouth, . . .

Look at you Mr know it all.

Hmmm.    All that for simply one line of suggestion - on top of OBJ's weeping!

@jerrymania, take it easy, even if your post is not appreciated.

Please do, and thanks.

and so?what is the BIG DEAL in the old man crying?it only shows that he is HUMAN,just like you and i,forget about his position and what have you.

olutomiwa:

it only shows that he is HUMAN,just like you and i,

I wish that were true! In which case I would have spent some good weeks in Aso Rock, and tatsted the sweet juice of commanding, demanding, reprimanding, manhandling, and even sef commandeering whatever suits my interests!

Let the baba cry! He's only missing what he left behind at AR!