He said it was normal that public office holders would only
be commended after leaving office by the time their achievements were compared
with those of their predecessors.Jonathan spoke while granting audience to a delegation from
his home state, Bayelsa, led by Governor Seriake Dickson.But the President’s wife, Patience, was again absent during
the visit of the Bayelsa delegation.Jonathan, however, told members of the delegation that his
wife would have joined him to receive them but for an urgent trip she made outside
Abuja.He said Patience left Abuja in the morning for their home
state to oversee the preparation for the traditional marriage of his cousin’s
daughter holding in Bayelsa State on Saturday.He said he would also be travelling for the event on Friday and
return to Abuja on Sunday.
Members of the delegation led by Dickson were in the
Presidential Villa, Abuja to felicitate with the President on the Christmas and
New Year festivities.The President said notwithstanding the various challenges
facing the country, he would do his best to make his people proud.He said, “I always say that I will not even expect praises
now because hardly do people praise serving leaders, it is when you leave. When
you leave, people will begin to compare what you have done over the period
vis-a-vis what others have done.“Probably that is the time some people will begin to say
good things about you. But I will do my best to make sure that we do change
things. We are trying to create an enabling environment for our economy to thrive
irrespective of the challenges we are having in the petroleum sector and the
security challenges we have.“I will do my best so that by the time I will leave, you
will be able to say that when our son was there, he served the country well so
that one day, another son of Bayelsa may be given another opportunity to serve
Nigerians.”
Jonathan observed that it had become the norm worldwide for
people to lambast their leaders, especially on the social media.He regretted that people were using different things that
had been created by people’s knowledge for negative purposes.He cited an example of dynamite, saying the inventor
regretted when he realised the destructive purposes people have turned the item
to.The President added, “These days, there are all kind of
stories. It is all over the world, leaders are being lambasted, especially with
the social media now.“People use what knowledge had created for negative reasons.
Just as I was told that the person who invented the dynamite regretted that
invention because he thought he was coming up with something to solve human
problem, but when he got to know about the level of destruction: human lives
that are being blown up because of explosion, the man regretted that invention.“What is supposed to be used for the common good was turned
to negative purposes.”
Jonathan reiterated his position that 2015 would be a
challenging year for the country because of the general elections.“The new year is full of challenges for Nigerians because of
the early elections. Everywhere will be hot from January 2,” he declared.Earlier, Dickson had told the President on behalf of the
delegation that the people of the state were proud of his service to the
nation.The governor added that the purpose of the visit was to show
the world that they were with Jonathan in actions and in prayers.Dickson said, “We are proud of your service. We are here to
show solidarity and to let everybody know that your people are always with you
in deed and in prayers.
“It is in the spirit of Christmas that we are here on behalf
of the people of the state to wish you, your family and government compliments
of the season and wish you victorious 2015.“We bring you prayers and message of solidarity. We thank
all Nigerians for the support and prayers they have been giving you.“We are proud of the service you are giving to our country
and we appreciate your transformation agenda.”
Via.punch
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