President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday
gave an insight into the fate that awaits him
under the incoming government of the
President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.), saying he and ministers as well as
other aides who served under him would
be persecuted.
He said he and his ministers would have
hard times because of some critical
decisions they took while in office.
Jonathan also looked back at all the benefits
that had come his way as a Nigerian, saying
he was ready to pay the supreme price for
the nation.
The President spoke at a thanksgiving and
farewell service organised in his honour at
the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life
Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Jonathan who was accompanied by his
wife, Patience, said considering what God
had done in his life, he wished he could
dance like the biblical King David but he kept
missing his steps whenever he made
attempts.
He said only a few Nigerians within his age
bracket were as lucky as he is because he
had not suffered any lack, not because he is
hardworking but by the grace of God.
He said after reflecting on the benefits which
included the scholarships he enjoyed in
school and the various political offices he
had occupied, he should be able to do
anything in the interest of the country,
including paying the supreme price.
He added that he is leaving office of the
President as a fulfilled and very happy man.
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 brackets have been
that lucky. All through my education I was
on government scholarship. I have not
suffered lack not because I am
hardworking, but by 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 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.”
Saying that hard decisions have their own
cost, Jonathan said he was ready to pay for
some of the costly decisions he took while
in charge of the country.
He said experience had shown him that
people would at a time desert anybody
who takes tough decisions like he did.
He said he had always hold the belief that
more of his friends would desert him as
time goes on.
He recalled the story of the last ruler of
apartheid South Africa who was divorced
by his wife for accepting to abolish minority
rule in the country, and said jokingly that he
hoped his wife will not also divorce him
after he might left office.
Mrs. Jonathan replied with a shout of
“Nooooo”.
Her response was greeted with a loud
applause by congregation members.
The President also prepared the minds of
the ministers and aides who served under
him, saying though times await them all.
He 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 stabilised 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.
“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 FW De Clark
took the decision to abolish minority rule in
RSA, even his wife divorced him. I hope
my wife will not divorce me. But that is the
only decision that has made RSA 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 RSA.
“If you take certain decisions, it might be
good for the generality of the people but it
might affect 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.
“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.”
Jonathan however said he was happy that
the ordinary people appreciate what he did
and that, according to him, is the most
important.
He said it was not what the elite or the
privileged few talk or say about his
administration that matters but what the
majority of the Nigerian public think about
his actions and inactions.
He expressed delight that he came to Abuja
with his family peacefully and they are
returning peacefully.
The President thanked the church and
Nigerians 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.
Despite exiting the Presidential Villa,
Jonathan promised that he would continue
to pray for the country and the Buhari
administration.
He said the outcome of the election went
that way because God wanted it to be so
for a purpose.
“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 happy. That is our interest,
that is my prayer point.
“All religious groups should pray for the
country,” he concluded.
Jonathan thereafter requested that his
favourite him, “Stand by me” be sung
again.
He said apart from inspiring him, the hymn
makes him aware of the fact that whatever
one does there will be storms.
He said the assurance in the hymn was that
once such a person means well for the
people, God will always stand by him.