Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, sent a message of hope to Nigerians, declaring that the nation will overcome its current economic challenges.
He said Nigerians must be prepared to protect and develop the country at all times, stressing that the current challenges were transient even as he urged Christians to continue to pray for the nation. He stated this while speaking at the public presentation of a book titled, “The History of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, his home town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Jonathan said the essence of history was to know how societies or clans evolved, adding that there was need to capture the spread of Christianity in communities in the Niger Delta.
He, therefore, appealed to indigenes of Otuoke to read the book and volunteer additional information for the next edition. The former president also eulogized the book reviewer, Professor Emeritus, Ebiegberi Alagoa, who he said has contributed so much towards the documentation of the history of Niger Delta.
While unveiling the book, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah(rtd), Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, stated that the book would engender the spiritual upliftment of its readers. He also congratulated the author of the book, Dr. Stephen Olali, who is also the Chief Historian and Archivist of the State for his efforts in writing the book.
The book reviewer, Prof. Alagoa commended the author, Dr. Olali, who was his former student at the University of Port Harcourt for effectively telling the story of Otuoke from a Christian perspective. Alagoa said the author has become a specialist in church history, having done a similar work for the Anglican Church, Tombia, and himself being a Christian and a historian.
The author of the book, Dr. Olali said the idea of writing the book was mooted in 2011 and commended former president Jonathan immensely for facilitating the publication of the book.
Dr. Godbless Eruani, Chairman, Azikel Group, who was the Chief Launcher, stated that a people without history were like a people without a soul and commended the church for the laudable project of documenting the history of the church.
Earlier in his sermon, Rt. Rev James Oruwori , Bishop of the Ogbia Diocese of the Anglican Communion, emphasized the need for Christians to be truthful, stressing that truth brings about freedom from sin, sicknesses and all kinds of tribulation.
