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Thanksgiving/Farewell Service—President Goodluck Jonathan
(M) flanked by the Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace,
Archbishop Nicholas Okoh with his spouse, Mrs. Okoh (3rdL), First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan (2ndR) and others after a Special Thanksgiving and Farewell
Service in honour of the First Family at the Cathedral Church of The Advent,
Life Camp, Abuja, yesterday.(Image source: Bellanaija.com)
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He
stated on Sunday during a thanksgiving and farewell service organized
in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja
that the persecution would happen because of the “ hard decisions”
his administration took while in office.
Jonathan
told the congregation that he understood clearly that “hard decisions” had
their own cost and was therefore ready to pay any price for them.
GRAPHITTI NEWS/The Nation report:
Jonathan
said that experience had shown him that people would at a time desert anybody
who took “hard decisions” like he did while in office.
Jonathan
added that he had always believed that more of his
friends would desert him after May 29.
The
President recalled the story of the last ruler of apartheid South Africa,
Frederik de Klerk, who was divorced by his wife for accepting to abolish
minority rule in the country, and said jokingly that he hoped his wife,
Patience, would not also divorce him after the end of his tenure on May 29.
Beaming
with smiles, Mrs. Jonathan, who on March 16 declared that she was not ready to
feed her husband in prison, replied with a shout of “Nooooo.”
Her
response was greeted with a loud applause by congregation members.
The
President said, “I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard
decisions have their own cost; and there is no doubt about that.
“That
I have run the government this way that stabilized certain things, the
electoral process and other things that brought stability to this country. They
are very costly decisions which I must be ready to pay for.
“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 that 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 de Klerk
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 be a global player now. If they still
have minority rule, by this time, nobody will be talking about
them.
“If
you take certain decisions, it might be good for many but it might affect
others differently. So, for ministers and aides who served with me,
I sympathize with them because they will be persecuted. They must be ready for
persecution.
“Quoting
Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough, I say 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.”
Jonathan
however said he was happy that ordinary Nigerians appreciated what he did and
that, according to him, is most important.
He
said it was not what the elite talk about or say about his administration that
mattered to him but what the majority of the Nigerians felt about his actions
and inactions.
The
President expressed delight that he came to Abuja with his family peacefully
and was leaving peacefully.
Jonathan
also looked back at all the benefits that had came his way as a Nigerian,
saying he was ready to pay the supreme price for the nation.
He
said considering what God had done in his life, he wished he could dance like
the biblical King David.
Jonathan
said, “I want to thank God for what he has done for me and my family. I wish to
dance more than David, if I tried to dance, I missed my steps.
“I
have all the reasons to thank God. Very few of those in my age bracket have
been that lucky. All through my education, I was on government scholarship. I
have not suffered lack not because I am hardworking, but it has been God’s
grace.
“When
I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the President of
this country, I say that if soldiers and policemen that have not received 0.5
per cent of the benefits that I have had from the state can lay down 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 the people of my state (Bayelsa) for giving
me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor. I thank all Nigerians who gave
me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and President. I had their
support to complete the tenure of the late president (Umaru Yar’Adua) and later
serve as President from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled
man.”
The
President also thanked the church for standing by him even at his
most difficult times.
He
said even on the March 28 presidential election which he lost to Buhari, there
were many people who supported him nationwide.
Jonathan
promised to continue to pray for the country and the incoming government of
Muhammadu Buhari .
He
said that Buhari won the March 28 election because God wanted it to
be so.
The
President added, “Even for the election, we had people who supported us all
over the country but things went the way they did because God wanted them 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 in terms of stability and a buoyant economy that will
enable Nigerians to move forward and live happily. That is our interest; that
is my prayer point.
“All
religious groups should pray for the country.”
Jonathan
thereafter requested that his favourite him, “Stand by me” be sang again.
He
said apart from inspiring him, the hymn “makes him to be aware of the fact that
whatever one does, there will always be storms.”
Buhari Has No Plan To Persecute Anyone – APC
The
All Progressives Congress on Monday said the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari, will not persecute anyone, urging outgoing public officials to clear
their conscience.
The
party in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said “those that had played poker with the nation’s
destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and
God.”
”That
the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he
has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.
“However,
the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen
to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason
to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians,” the party said.
The
APC said under the climate of change that Nigerians had ushered in with their
votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid, adding that those with a guilty
conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such
so they can be at peace with themselves.
"The
last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” it
added.
The
party wondered why President Goodluck Jonathan chose a public forum to
express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with
the President-elect.
"Since
the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the
President-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan
express his apprehensions during these meetings?
"Even if the two have not
met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears
that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was
being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy,” the party stated.
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