WorldStage Newsonline-- President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his sadness over multiple bomb blasts that rocked three churches in Kaduna and Zaria on Sunday.
The President who was in a church service at the Aso Villa Chapel, State House when the report of the multiple attacks reached him said the incident had made him quite sad.
The three churches attacked, include, Christ The King Catholic Church in Wusasa, the Evangelical Church of West Africa in Sabon Gari and the Shallom Church located in Tirkaniyaa around the Goni Gora area of the State.
The Pan-Northern socio-political organization, the Arewa Consultative Forum has also condemned the bombing, saying the news came to the organization with surprise .
The incident also cut short the President’s participation in the celebration of this year's Fathers' Day which was celebrated in all the churches across the country in appreciation of fathers in the society.
Jonathan who had earlier joined a group of men to render special songs to God, which include a song titled "stand by me”, was visibly looking disturbed and gloomy when called upon to give his remark.
He expressed his sadness over the news of the blasts as he said, ``I was particularly thrilled by what was going on in the church when I got the information that while we were here, there were explosions in Kaduna and since I don't even know the casualty rate and what is happening, I have been quite sad and I didn't even want to say something. But when your priest orders you, you must say something."
The President also said in all he had taken solace in God, who the omnipotent, who is capable of handling every situation and healing the nation.
He also solicited the support and prayers of every Nigerian for the peace of the nation and for the success of his administration.
Earlier in a message titled "Sovereign Fatherhood of God", the guest speaker, Prof. Jerry Gana, attributed the failure of the society to bad leadership at various homes.
He posited that to build a solid society the people must build a good family by raising responsible and God fearing children.
The former minister also said one of the key roles of a father is to provide and guaranteed security for his children.
Gana called on the congregation to put their hope in God, the heavenly father of all, the omnipotent and ever loving God.
Reading from the book of Psalm 91, Gana declared that God is the refuge of the nation and the leaders and the entire nation.
He therefore prayed that God would move to rescue the nation from its present state of insecurity characterised by suicide bombing and attacks of Churches.
The church service which started at exactly 9am began with Bible teaching led by the Chaplain of the Chapel, Rev Obioma Onwuzurumba.
The President opened the second segment and the main service with the Bible memory verses taken from the Book of Saint James chapter 1 verse 2 to 4.This was followed by a responsive reading from the Book of Psalm 91 taken in sequence by the fathers and mothers in the congregation in the spirit of the day.
The First Lady Dame Patience took the First Bible reading from the Book of Psalm 29 1 - 11 while the second reading from Ephesians 3: 14 - 24 was taken by the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson.
Prayers were offered for peace, security and prosperity of the nation and for divine guidance for the leaders.
In the congregation were former Bayelsa governor, Diepreye Alamiseyegha, Ministers of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, and Information Labaran Maku.
The Executive Secretary of National Christians Pilgrim Commission, Mr. Kennedy Okpara, some members of the Diplomatic corps and presidential aides were also among the congregation.
Meanwhile, ACF in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani noted that: “The reported bombings of some churches and other places in Kaduna and Zaria towns which have resulted in loss of many lives and properties today, Sunday the 17th June,2012,have come to Arewa Consultative Forum as a surprise. A big surprise because this is coming in the wake of an offer of constructive engagement or dialogue by the federal government at the instance of well meaning Nigerians, including elders of North East geopolitical zone, which held a meeting in Bauchi last week.
“It is still the position of ACF that whatever may be the perceived grievances, it cannot be the justification for taking the lives of innocent people who are totally unaware of the nature of the grouse. More so that there is no religion which allows its adherents to kill innocent fellow human beings. In fact, all all religions preach peace and love of neighbour.
“Therefore, ACF would not be tired of repeated calls on those who kill themselves and other people to stop such killings,and embrace the offer of dialogue by government as the only way of addressing any perceived grievances, however deep and wide, towards sustaining peace and national security.
“The Forum also wishes to appeal to people not to take laws into their hands by way of reprisal attacks, precisely because any such reprisals would be misdirected at yet another set of innocent Nigerians who may have no links with the bombers. What is more, an-eye-for-an-eye is supposed to have yielded to go-and-sin-no-more long time ago.
“And to those who have lost loved ones and properties, the heart of ACF goes to them in this difficult times with prayers for God to provide them with fortitude to endure the losses as well as make it possible for replacement of the lost properties many folds.”
*With report from Victor Iluyemi (Abuja)
