President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday that his friends and associates have abandoned him, but that he was willing to pay even the supreme price if need be to keep Nigeria’s unity.
Jonathan, who was full of thanksgiving for the marvelous grace of God upon his life, said that a few men of his age have enjoyed equal grace from God.
He said that the country has given him so much, from enjoying scholarship throughout his education to being taken care of by the state for 16 years. He also promised that in or out of government, he will continue to give his best to the country. saying he is “a very happy and fulfilled man”.
The president spoke at the Thanksgiving and Farewell Service in the honour of him and and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Life-Camp, Gwarinpan, Abuja
Jonathan said that despite anybody might think or say, he is a fulfilled man.
Reaching deep to his humour bank, the president said he regretted he was not a good dancer if not, for he would have out-danced the biblical David even at the risk of annoying his wife in obvious reference to the Biblical story where David danced lavishly to the chagrin of hi wife. He said not many Nigerians in his age bracket have been as privileged as he is to have enjoyed government scholarship in school up to master’s degree as well as fortunate in his political career.
He noted that his good fortunes continued even when he did his Ph.D as his then employers also paid for his scholarship.
Speaking more on paying the supreme price, Jonathan said if soldiers and police officers who do not earn anything close to what he is being paid by the state could die while serving the country and maintaining territorial, integrity, he sees no reason why he too cannot pay the supreme price for Nigeria’s unity.
President Jonathan who noted that he has not suffered lack not because he is hardworking, but simply by God’s grace.
In his words, “When I look at the story of my life up to when I became President of this country, it occurs to me that if soldiers and police officers that have not received 0.5 per cent of the benefits that I have received from the state can lay down their lives for this country, then, there is nothing whatsoever I should do in the interest of Nigeria that I won’t, including paying the supreme price.”
Jonathan said he would continue to do his best for the Nigerian state from which he has benefitted hugely. He noted that from his secondary to tertiary levels of education, up to the Master’s degree levels, he had one form of scholarship or the other even to the doctoral degree which he said was sponsored by his employers.
“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person,”he said.
I have to thank Nigerians, especially my state for giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor, and then, the whole country which gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and then President, to complete the tenure of the late President and later serve as President in my own right, from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man.”
He said his decision to concede victory to Buhari was “a costly decision,” which though has turned people from him, “had to be taken in the overall best interests of the nation.”
According to him: “Some hard decisions have their own costs, no doubt about that. That I have run the government this way, stabilised certain things including the electoral system of this country.
They were very costly decisions, which I myself must be ready to pay for.” He said such decisions did not only affect his relationship with people, but even those who work with him either as ministers or aides, as they would be subjected to rough times ahead.
“Some people come to me and say: ‘Is this person not your friend? Was it not through your government he benefited? But look at what he is saying. “Then, I know that worse treatment will come, if you take certain decision and that even some people, who are very close to you will abandon you at some point. I know that more of my so-called friends will disappear.”
The President likened his decision to the reform brought to South African political landscape by President FW De Klerk which led to the dismantling of the apartheid regime in that country.
He said: ‘‘When De Klerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in South Africa, even his wife divorced him.’’ Turning to his wife, the President smiling, said: “I hope my wife will not divorce me?” to which the First Lady shouted, Noooo!” and a deafening applause followed from the congregation.
The president went on to identify the dismantling of apartheid, as unpopular as it was to some, as the only decision that has made South Africa to still remain a global player till today.
“If we still had minority rule there, by this time, nobody would be talking about Republic of South Africa. If you take certain decisions, they might be good for the generality of the people but might affect some people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them.
They will be persecuted and they must be ready for that persecution.’’ Paraphrasing the late social crusader, Tai Solarins’s October 1, 1964 article, ‘May Your Road Be Rough,’ Jonathan told his ministers and other aides who have served with him: “I wish you what I wish myself. There will be hard times, we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough.
“But we are happy that 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 home peacefully.” The President said he would continue to pray for the peace of the country and for the success of the incoming administration, noting, “when the country is in good shape, people will 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.
A stable, buoyant economy that will enable Nigerians to move forward and live happily, that is our interest. That is my prayer point.”
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana and Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo had earlier in their tributes attributed the peace and stability being enjoyed today in the country to Jonathan’s selflessness in conceding victory, “even when it was glaring that the polls were fraught with irregularities.”
Gana described the President as a man who was favoured by God in many ways, thanking God for what He used Jonathan to achieve for the country.
“Jonathan is a man of favour. He is highly favoured 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 victory to his opponent in a heroic manner,” the former minister said. Nebo also praised the President while reeling out some of his unique qualities and achievements in office. “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,” Nebo said.
Okoh, in his comments, said the President had several reasons to be thankful to God and should consider it a privilege to have been elected to lead the country of 170 million people.
“The first one is the privilege to be President of Nigeria.
We are over 170 million. If it was done by the tallest, wisest, strongest, he would not have fit the bill. Having been deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president, God has been good to him. It is a rare privilege which may not come to be appreciated in many years. “We also thank God for your contribution and growth of our country.
Some of the projects you initiated have been completed; some in advanced stage or at foundation stage, whatever stage it may be, generation yet unborn will read about Jonathan than he governed from so, so time to so, so time. It would be studied by our children in history books, so we should thank God.
‘‘Again, you are leaving the Villa alive. Only God knows what would have happened. The scripture says nothing is greater than life. You came in with your family around you and you are leaving with them which is good reason, not just to give thanks but to dance like David.
“Why you should give thanks is because is a command by God to give thanks in all circumstances. “Again, you may look into the future and you may wonder how you will handle it, but things have happened before now and God says He’ll be with you in all circumstances. In Lion’s den, God was with Daniel.’’
