FEC marks Jonathan’s 5th year in office

By Future Bright

President Goodluck Jonathan during theopening of the Federal Executive Council Meeting WednesdayIn Abuja.

The Federal Executive Council yesterday offered Special Prayers to mark the 5th anniversary of President Goodluck taking over the leadership of Nigeria as substantive president.

The event which took most members of the council by surprise as most of them did not remember the date saw the Minister of Labour, Chinedu Nebo an ordained minister in the anglican communion and the Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda offering christian and muslim prayers respectively.

President Jonathan was sworn-in on 6th May 2010 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu following the death of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. President Jonathan who came into the council chambers wednesday morning announced the news of the swearing-in five years ago as birthday.

After the national anthem and national pledge, Jonathan threw a poser at the Ministers that one of them was marking his birthday. He said instead of the usual national prayer, two members of council Christian and Muslim should offer prayers for the council member before the meeting would continue with the day’s business.

The Ministers looked round at each other in surprise wondering who the celebrant was without any clue. President Jonathan then reminded them that 6th of May, 2015 marks his 5th year anniversary as substantive President. All cabinet members  clapped joyfully before the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo said the Christian prayer while the Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda said the Muslim prayer.

After the national pledge, Jonathan said: “Today, we will not say the national prayer. Somebody is celebrating birthday so we will offer special prayers for him. Two very Godly people will pray, Nebo and Yuguda. Do you know the person?” When they could not answer, he said: “On May 6, exactly five years today, I was sworn-in as substantive President.