President Goodluck Jonathan has opened up on his fears and hopes about life after power. Speaking at a thanksgiving service in his honour at the Anglican Church, in Life Camp, Abuja on Sunday ,Jonathan said every sacrifice he has made for Nigeria was worthwhile.He is still willing to make further sacrifices.
Speaking against the background of his concession of defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan also said many friends have abandoned him and many more will desert him after leaving office May 29,2015.He then expressed the hope that his wife Patience will not desert him.
“Some people come to me and say this or that person is he not your friend that benefitted. Is it not your government that this person benefitted from? But this is what the person is saying. But I used to say worse statements will come. If you take certain decisions, you should know that those close to you will even abandon you at some point. And I tell them that more of my so-called friends will disappear. When FW De clerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in South Africa even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made South Africa to still remain a global player by this time. If we still had that minority rule there, by this time, nobody will be talking about South Africa now.” His wife replied with a loud “Noooo”, meaning she will not divorce him much to the pleasure of the crowd which applauded.
Jonathan took a heroic decision of conceding defeat to Buhari even before the final tally of the presidential elections were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC.He has been hailed globally.But by his latest confession, friends have equally abandoned him.
Jonathan however said “I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt about that. That I have ran the government this way that stabilize certain things, the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country. They were very costly decisions which I myself must be ready to pay for.
It could be recalled that Buhari had in his acceptance speech assured Jonathan that he has nothing to fear.
Jonathan however on Sunday advised his ministers and aides to be on alert as he fears they will face hard times ahead .“If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathize with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.
While quoting Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough. To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times, we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough. ”
The president reiterated that he was ready to make any sacrifice for the country.”When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the President of this country; and I say that if soldiers and police officers that have not received 0. 5 percent of the benefits that I have received from the state can lay their lives for this country, I should do anything in the interest of Nigeria including paying the supreme price.
“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person.
“I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor and the whole country gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and then President , first was to complete the tenure of the late President and later serve as President from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man”.
Jonathan particularly thanked” ordinary” Nigerians for their support: ” But we are happy the ordinary people appreciate what we did and that is most important. It’s not what the elite or the privileged few talk or say about you but what the majority of the Nigerian public think about your actions and inactions that matter. We came to Abuja peacefully and we are returning peacefully.
“I thank the church and Nigerians because they stood by us at our most difficult times.
“Even for the election, we had people who supported us all over the country but things went the way they did because God wanted it that way for a purpose.
“We will continue to pray for the peace of the country and for the success of the incoming administration. When the country is in good shape, people benefit. When things are going well, people are happy. You don’t need to know Mr President or Mr Governor . The issue is not about Jonathan or Buhari or any other person. The issue is how the government functions. Stability, buoyant economy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and live happily is all I am interested in. That is our interest, that is my prayer point. All religious groups should pray for the country.
Among those who spoke was the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo.He praised the President as he outline Jonathan’s achievements.
According to Nebo,”He is humane, gentle and unassuming. He has transformed Nigeria. He is not vindictive. He loved the youths. He empowered, mentored and motivated youths and women. He is a listening leader. He listens to everyone in Council before making judgment. He fixed the electoral process and brought credibility into it. He is Nigeria’s greatest leader.”
Also speaking on the occasion,former Minister of Information,Professor Jerry Gana said, “Jonathan is a man of favour. He is highly favored by God. We thank God for what He has done for Nigeria through the man. Despite the big positions he occupied in the country, he has remained humble and he has succeeded in deepening democracy in the country. He revived the rail system of transportation. He brought back hope to Nigeria and to cap it all he conceded defeat to his opponent in a heroic manner.”
