TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan says the general election scheduled for February next year will hold irrespective of the security challenges in the country.

There have been speculations that elections may not hold because of increasing terror attacks in the north.

A member of the National Conference had last week canvassed that all elected officers in the country should have their tenures extended by 18 months because of the security situation in the country.

But Jonathan said on Sunday that elections will hold and a new government will be installed on May 29, 2015.

His current tenure will expire next year but he has not yet indicated if he will stand for re-election.

He was speaking at the 2014 Democracy Day interdenominational church service with the theme “Love the Lord… and your Neighbour” held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

He said: “After today, the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.

“I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter card (pictured). A pressman asked me whether there will be election in Nigeria and I told him there will be.

“This country will continue to move in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing.”

He also admitted that the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok was a major dent on the nation’s security.

“We have been witnessing terror attacks for two years plus, but the Chibok incident has added a major dent to the security of the country. There is nothing God cannot do. With your prayers, our girls will be seen (rescued) by our security personnel,” he said.

The president said the objective of those unleashing violence on the nation was to bring down his government but ‎”despite their evil machinations the country will continue to move forward”.

He said the beauty of democracy is that every public office holder knows the terminal date of his tenure.

He also said despite the problems associated with democracy, “it remains the best form of government”.

Four or even 10 years are not enough to develop a nation, he told the congregation, adding that “nation-building is a continuous exercise”.

Jonathan said: “You can imagine if this government has not been facing these distractions within this period, definitely, we would have moved farther than this.

“All these distractions are planned to bring this government down and since they failed, terror will also fail. Terror will not stop this country from progressing.”

The service was attended by the president’s wife, Patience; his mother, Eunice; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; and former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

Also in attendance were members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the judiciary, presidential aides, security chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers and captains of industry.