PHOTOS: Aso Rock Agog For Jonathan At 57

Hip! Hip!! Hip!!! 57th birthday of President Goodluck Jonathan

Family members, friends and aides on Thursday morning joined President Goodluck Jonathan to celebrate his 57th birthday.

The birthday was marked with a short Holy Communion service inside the President’s official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

President Jonathan  cutting his birthday cake. With him are - First Lady, Patience Jonathan (3rd R); Mother of the President, Mrs Eunice Jonathan (3rd L); Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and others

The service was officiated by his Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba.

Jonathan, joined by his wife, Patience, and his mother, Eunice later proceeded to cut his birthday cakes.

 

President Jonathan (2nd R); Dame Patience Jonathan (R) Mother of the President, Mrs Eunice Jonathan (M), Chaplain Aso Villa Chapel, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba 

In a short remarks after cutting the cakes, Jonathan urged Nigerians to continue to join hands with him to move the nation forward.

“Though we face challenges, we will surely get over them. Let us live together, work hard together and pray together,” the host said.

L-R; Mother of the President, Mrs Eunice Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan with members of the State House Press Corps
 

Earlier in a short exhortation, Onwuzurumba noted that when God’s hand is on a man, there is nothing opposition can do.

“There will always be opposition. Once God has chosen a man, He will protect him. God who has called you from a remote tribe will give you valiant men, whose hearts are right with God to work with you,” he said.

Onwuzurumba’s wife read the only lesson of the service from 1 Samuel 10:14-26.

Special prayers were later made for the President, his wife, family members and the nation.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan during communion prayer to mark the 57th birthday of the president 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan being congratulated by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and his mother Mrs Eunice Jonathan

Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON was born on 20 November 1957 in what is now Bayelsa State to a family of canoe makers. Jonathan holds a B.Sc. degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours. He holds an M.Sc. degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries biology, and a PhD degree in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt. Before he entered politics in 1998, he worked as an education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer. Jonathan and his wife Patience have two children. He is a Christian, and he comes from the Ijaw ethnic group.

He has been President of Nigeria since 2010. Prior to his role as President, he served as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007 and as Vice-President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and is the sole presidential candidate of the party for the 2015 national elections.

Photo: PRESIDENCY