President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said the peace and tranquility currently enjoying in the country is an answer to the prayer he prayed to God in 2007.

The President also appealed to all Nigerians including clerics to always pray for the success of the incoming administration.

Jonathan, who spoke at the 2015 Presidential Thanksgiving and Inauguration Interdenominational Church Service, in Abuja, canvassed support for the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and his team to ensure good governance in the country.

The President noted that Nigeria as a country had all reasons to be grateful to God, adding that the country since the almagamation had been from one problems to another, and God in His mercy still keeps it together.

He noted that when he was about taken the mantle of leadership in 2007, he prayed God to guide him in all his decisions, to avoid plunging the entire country in to chaos.

“We are quite please today, in 2007 when I was here, I can remembered what one thing I can remember is that, I asked God that any decision that I am going to take that will affect this nation that He should guide me in whatever I do.

“And today, we are here not celebrating the breaking of this nation, we here to celebrate the unity of this country, we here not having mass service for mass burial. We are here to inaugurate an incoming government.

“I call on you to pray for us, because probably today is last day I will speak to you here as a president of Nigeria, if I have reason to speak here again, I will be referred to as former president.

“I appeal to you, to pray for incoming government, because they need more prayer than we do, if Jonathan make mistake today, it will only affect me and my family, but if incoming government do it, it will affect the whole Nigeria.

“All what Nigerians home and abroad want is good governance,” Jonathan noted, while thanking God for His mercy over the country.

He continued, “As a nation we have all reasons to be grateful to God. Nigeria is relatively young, almagamation is just 101 years old, and from independence, 55years ago, to compare ourselves to other nations, who have spent 200 years of existence.

“Within this period, we have series of challenges, we had the civil war that lasted for about three years, in the political realm, it has never been that easy. First Republic is just about five years plus, second republic lasted four years, the third republic was aborted half way for about three years president was not elected, and this is 4th republic that we have started in 1999, now is 16 years.

“The first 16 years when one party rule the nation and of course they have four successors, Obasanjo to Yar,adua, to Jonathan. And today this transition, as PDP is handling over to conglomeration of so many political parties, APC.”

In his message, the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Revd Nicholas Okoh urged Nigerians to be patient with the incoming administration, adding that it takes time to build, therefore, people must avoid the syndrome of Hossanah today, crucify him tomorrow.

The Primate also warned the incoming government against abandoning ongoing projects started by the Jonathan administration.

His words: “We must be patient with incoming government. It takes time to build, unless you do not want to build what we endure. If you want what will endure you need time to build.

“They need time to study, to organize, to plan and to start. So, we appeal to Nigerians to aviod the syndrome of ‘hossanah today, crucify him tomorrow’.

“I appeal to the incoming government, particularly with the regard to previous investment in all the communities around Nigeria. We plead with you, complete these projects. Because its Nigerians, who are leaving office, again its Nigerians who are coming into office, its benefit for everyone for old, young and incoming generation.”

In his remarks, the Vice President-elect, Prof Yemi Osibajo joined other great clerics to prayed for the peace and progress of the country.

President Jonathan and his wife were presented with an Award of Outstanding Christian Community in Public Service by the President of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.