As he bows out of office in about seven weeks, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday described himself as the luckiest Nigerian today, after holding government positions in the past 16 years, a feat he said is enough for him.
The President said he was leaving office a happy man, thanking Nigerians for their support during the period, just as he urged them to help him thank God for the unique privilege.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa, when Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, led a delegation of Abuja residents to pay him the customary Easter homage, Jonathan declared: “Today is a glorious day for me.”
Continuing, he thanked the delegation “for coming to encourage us. Though this Easter period coincides with when I am leaving, but I always say I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians.
“From 1999 I have been in the hands of government till date… 16 good years. I think it is enough and I am happy. Help me to thank God for that. I will continue to thank Nigerians for giving me that privilege.
“I became deputy governor because Bayelsans voted for me and my governor (Diepreye Alamieyeseigha) then; I became Vice-President because Nigerians voted for me and (Umar) Yar’Adua and Nigerians for me and (Namadi) Sambo.
“We have to thank all Nigerians. Wherever I will be, I have to thank all Nigerians… Today is a glorious day for me,” he stressed.
The President charged Nigerians to extend similar support to his successor and President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, just as they should make sacrifices beyond loyalty to whoever is in power, while always exhibiting unalloyed patriotism for national development.
He said this is reflected in the message of Easter season, being a period to reflect on the essence of Christian belief that without the resurrection of Christ, there would not have been Christianity.
According to him, “whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson there is sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. So as a people, as a government, what I always believe we should ask is what sacrifice you are making?
”It is not about supporting Jonathan or government. Now, Buhari is coming on board, it is not about supporting Buhari or government but what sacrifice, as an individual, are you willing to make for government and for the nation.
“If you are a businessman 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.
“While in Bayelsa State as a deputy governor, people use to come to me to say ‘I’m loyal’. Don’t tell me you are loyal, tell me ‘I’m patriotic’ to the country and that you believe in Bayelsa State.
“Whenever I travel to different countries and see things work, those things didn’t fall down as manna… people made sacrifice. Therefore in Nigeria people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice.
“Whoever becomes president is immaterial, so long as the citizens are happy, our children go to school… when we are sick we go to good hospital and of course, the economy blossoms. But for that to take place, people must make the required sacrifice.
“In the ECOWAS sub-region for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT (Value Added Tax) payment of five per cent. Other countries pay up to 12 per cent.
“If for instance, Buhari decides to increase VAT from five to 10 per cent, will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice and we must make sacrifice.
“Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individuals and the patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements; we must be ready to sacrifice for our nation,” he added.
The President added that while security agents were sacrificing their lives for the nation in the fight against terrorism, other Nigerians can avail themselves of other roles and opportunities to make sacrifices for the country.
Also in the delegation were: Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide; Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; the Chief Imam of National Mosque, Abuja; former Minister of Information, Labaran, Maku; and former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; among others.
The delegation presented a giant Easter greeting card to the President and his wife, Patience, who was however absent.
The Easter homage was preceded by an Easter Sunday church service at the Aso Villa chapel where the Chaplain, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, reminded the congregation to always be sincere with God in order to get salvation.
In his sermon titled: “The Lord is Risen Indeed,” he noted that Jesus is resurrected from the dead and is neither on the cross nor in the grave, but would come again to take His people home to a better place.
Referring to when Jesus was in the world and even his disciples could not recognise him as the Messiah, Onwuzurumba noted that although Jonathan had been voted out of office on March 28, and he conceded victory, people would look for him to seek his advice in future.
His words: “Some will say Jonathan has lost election… Jonathan has lost nothing. He was to give and not to get. This Jonathan they despised today… they will look for him someday. He will be an adviser. He is not Jesus but he is like Jesus.”
The Church service was attended by the President; his Chief of Staff, Jones Arogbofa; Minister of Agriculture, Adesina Akinwunmi; and other presidential aides.
Culled from Daily Independent
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