I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians, Jonathan admits

DR. Goodluck Jonathan has described himself as one of the luckiest citizens of Nigeria having been provided with the opportunity of serving the nation for an unbroken record of 16 years, culminating in his becoming the President.

For this gesture, the President said he remained eternally grateful to Nigerians, saying he could not have asked for more. But he solicited maximum support and cooperation of Nigerians for the incoming government of Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to enable him move the nation forward.

The President spoke yesterday, when he received a Christian delegation from residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who came to pay him the yearly Easter homage at the new banquet hall, Presidential Villa. Jonathan confessed that in the last 16 years, he had always been locked up in Government Houses and fed with public funds.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Jonathan had served as deputy to erstwhile Governor Diepreye Alameisiagha of Bayelsa State.

He later became the governor of the state; then Vice President to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, then Acting President, when the latter took ill and died and subsequently elected as President in 2011.

His words: “I’m one of the luckiest Nigerian citizens, because for the past 16 years I have been taken care of by government and I think it is enough and I thank God for that. I will continue to thank Nigerians for the opportunity. Today I must say I’m grateful to this country.”

But unlike the previous homages, only a handful of politicians, admirers and his aides were on hand to felicitate with him, including Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; his counterpart in the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh; Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammed, the two Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed and Olajumoke Akinjide.

Others included the FCT chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Israel Akanji, some cabinet ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, Head of Service of the Federation, (HoSF), Daniel Kifasi; Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, former Minister of Information and governorship candidate of All Progressives Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, Labaran Maku and Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The President, who harped on the theme of sacrifice as was contained in his Easter message at the weekend, said it was necessary for the growth and development of the country.

According to him: “Whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson here is sacrifice because somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. So as a people, as a governed, what I always believe is that we should ask what sacrifice are we making. Now is not about sporting Jonathan government. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is coming on board, it is not about supporting Buhari government but what sacrifice as individuals are you willing to make for government and for the nation.

“If you are a business man and you say you are supporting government but you don’t pay tax, how do you expect that government to survive, that government will not survive. To me whenever I travel to different countries and see the good things, those things did not fall like manners as people made sacrifice. So in Nigeria people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice.

“Whoever becomes the President is immaterial so long as the citizens are happy, our children can go to schools, when we are sick we should be able to access good medicare and of course a blossoming economy.

“But for that to take place, people must make the required sacrifice because in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub region for instance, Nigeria has the lowest valued added tax (VAT) of five per cent payment, whereas other countries pay up to 12 per cent VAT.

“If for instance Buhari decided to increase VAT from five to 10 per cent, will Nigerians support him? That is the sacrifice we must make. Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individuals and the patriotism of its citizens. These are key elements we must be able ready to sacrifice for our nation.

“We are talking about Boko Haram or terrorism, soldiers are dying for us to live; policemen are dying for us to live, that is a sacrifice, as individuals you don’t need to die but there are other various roles you need to play to ensure that you make the sacrifice.”

The President made allusion to China before the revolution where the Chinese had to lock themselves for a period of time, carried out the necessary restructuring before opening up again, asking whether Nigerians were prepared to make such sacrifices.

“Whenever we talk of Easter these are the key lessons from sacrifice,” he said.

He said he would continue to thank Nigerians for giving him the privilege of serving, adding: “I became the deputy governor because Bayelsans voted for me and the then governor; I became the governor, Vice President, Nigerians voted for me and Yar’Adua and Nigerians voted for me and Sambo. So we have to thank all Nigerians. Please help me thank God for that.”

Earlier, Sambo had extolled the virtues and leadership qualities of Jonathan, noting that he remained committed to the President’s ideals as exemplified in his character. He said the nation was proud of the President and his actions, especially by conceding defeat thereby saving the nation from serious political chaos. By that, he said the President had raised the profile of the country in the global community.

“By your actions, your name will forever will be written in gold, not only in Nigeria, Africa, but the entire world. I’m proud to have been your deputy, friend, brother and you will forever remain my teacher. I will forever remain loyal to you and we will remain members of one family.”

Also speaking, the FCT minister, described Jonathan as a quintessential leader, whose legacy would continue to linger on in the nation’s political history. He urged Nigerians to accord the incoming administration the necessary support and cooperation to enable it execute its programmes for the benefit of the entire country, adding that government was about welfare and well being of the people.

ing him the privilege of serving, adding: “I became the deputy governor because Bayelsans voted for me and the then governor; I became the governor, Vice President, Nigerians voted for me and Yar’Adua and Nigerians voted for me and Sambo. So we have to thank all Nigerians. Please help me thank God for that.”

Earlier, Sambo had extolled the virtues and leadership qualities of Jonathan, noting that he remained committed to the President’s ideals as exemplified in his character. He said the nation was proud of the President and his actions, especially by conceding defeat thereby saving the nation from serious political chaos. By that, he said the President had raised the profile of the country in the global community.

“By your actions, your name will forever will be written in gold, not only in Nigeria, Africa, but the entire world. I’m proud to have been your deputy, friend, brother and you will forever remain my teacher. I will forever remain loyal to you and we will remain members of one family.”

Also speaking, the FCT minister, described Jonathan as a quintessential leader, whose legacy would continue to linger on in the nation’s political history. He urged Nigerians to accord the incoming administration the necessary support and cooperation to enable it execute its programmes for the benefit of the entire country, adding that government was about welfare and well being of the people.