Osinbajo prays for Jonathan at National Christian Centre, Abuja (VIDEO)

Reports say President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience and vice-president elect Yemi Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo were all in attendance.

Others who were present at the Thanksgiving service were, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.), National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, the Service chiefs, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and many cabinet members.

Giving a speech at the Thanksgiving service, President Jonathan asked Nigerians to pray for him but pray more for the success of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming government.

He said: “I thank you for the support and I will call on you to pray for us who are leaving, because probably today is the last day I will speak to you here as the President of Nigeria.

“But you should even pray more for the incoming government because we are now trying to manage our private businesses while they are coming to manage the whole country.

“So they require more prayers because I can make a mistake and it will affect me, but if they make a mistake, it will affect the whole nation. So I call on all of you and all religious bodies to pray for the incoming government to succeed because all what we want as a nation, both Nigerians at home and abroad, is for good government, prosperity, unity and peace. We cannot achieve that without the help of God,” Jonathan stated.

The president continued: “I am quite please today we are here not to celebrate disintegration of this country, but we are celebrating the unity of this country. We are here not for service for mass burial, but we are here having service to inaugurate the new incoming government.

“This being possible because of men and women like you who have been here praying for the country. God has designed everything, ” he said.

Anglican Primate, Nicholas Okoh In his message, noted that the thanksgiving and praises on behalf of the first family and the incoming government was a period for counting their blessings and give thanks to God like David did in the Holy Bible in Psalm 103.

According to the Archbishop, God protected and guided Jonathan throughout his tenure.

He said: “It is the privilege of God that you are going home younger, in good health and with gratitude.

“As you leave office, you are leaving behind a new political attitude that no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

“How many times in this country have we come to a edge as if the country was going to break up and somehow we come out of it.

“Nigerians also rejoice because we are not running helter skelter.

“God saved our country from the prophesy of doom. God saved us. The prophets of doom have been disappointed.”

The Anglican cleric also urged Nigerians to be patient with the incoming government as it takes time to build anything that will endure.

It was gathered that vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo and his wife Dolapo, thanked God and sang praises to God in Igbo, Delta, Hausa, and Yoruba languages when invited to the podium.

Stressing that CAN has said all that needs to be said, he prayed for God’s mercy, compassion, peace, joy, strength and long life for President Jonathan and his family as they leave office.

Prof. Osinbajo also prayed that God will make Nigeria what He has promised it to be.

While Senate President David Mark read the first lesson, Osinbajo read the second.

It was learnt that an award and two Holy Bibles were given by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to President Jonathan and his wife for his outstanding Christian humility in public service, especially conceding defeat after the 2015 presidential elect