Jonathan blasts past Nigerian rulers, says they are lesser than Mandela

President Jonathan says it is difficult for Nigerian politicians to achieve greatness

President Goodluck Jonathan has said past Nigerian leaders cannot be compared to the late former South African leader, Nelson Mandela, saying it was on record that they ruled repressively during their regimes.

He also described Nigerian politicians who threaten, boast and play little gods by virtue of their position as tiny men, a character trait he said is contrary to the exemplary leadership Mr. Mandela exhibited and lived for.

Speaking at a memorial service in honour of late Mandela at the Aso Rock Chapel in Abuja on Sunday, Mr. Jonathan said contrary to Mr. Mandela who was filled with humility, forgiving spirit and the ability to unite and reunite people, past Nigerian rulers played repressive roles during their reigns.

According to him “great names as we hear today in Nigeria are not enough” as the same names played repressive roles and ruled repressively during their days as rulers in this country”.

Although he did not mention names, Mr. Jonathan berated top Nigerian politicians who speak “as if Nigeria is their bedroom” from where they make proclamation and intimidate others.

He added that some of them even demonstrated hatred in their speeches.

He noted that even when he listens to some “politicians older than me, I come to the conclusion that it is truly difficult for a carmel to pass through the eyes of a needle than for a politician to achieve greatness”.

He eulogised the late Mr. Mandela’s selfless virtues adding that today all those who fought him and called him terrorists were now singing his praises.

“For anybody that will make changes, don’t expect praises, they will call you names but the end matters much,” he said.

Also paying tribute to Mr. Mandela at the service, Senate President, David Mark enjoined Africans to fight for economic independence and democracy as the struggle is still ongoing.

Mr. Mark, who said Mr. Mandela lived and died for Africa, noted that if the campaign for a United Africa had been championed by Mr. Mandela instead of the late Libyan Leader, Muammar Gaddafi, it would have succeeded.

He also noted that Mr. Mandela did not only live and die for South Africa, but he also led in the struggle for Africa to become democratically independent.

The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Louis Mnguni, in his tribute said Mr. Mandela was indeed selfless as even though he colud have made money for himself as a lawyer, he chose to remain and die as a combatant.

Mr. Mnguni also appreciated Nigeria for all the support it has always rendered for his country stating that “despite it’s own numerous challenges, Nigeria has not taken its eyes off South Africa.

In his tribute, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, who was amongst the six people who paid tribute at the ceremony besides the President, emphasized the need to remember those who fought with Mr. Mandela.
He noted that the unsung heroes of the apartheid struggle should be celebrated with much emphasis on reducing persisting institutional injustices.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151102-jonathan-blasts-past-nigerian-rulers-says-they-are-lesser-than-mandela.html

The man make sense small sha

sys a man that eats 1 billion naira a year, pardoned a convicted looter, said corruption is not our problem, let a minister waste 300mill on two cars when there is no drinkable water in his village..

shior kelembe tweh!!!

Which sense did he make? What legacy has he laid? Birds of a feather...

^ ^
You dey mind them?

Shebi una don see wetin Mandela death make our leaders turn into? Na dem come carry the man death for head sotay all of them dey claim say dem be Mandela reincarnate! Una see am?

ceo4eva:
He noted that even when he listens to
some “politicians older than me, I
come to the conclusion that it is truly
difficult for a carmel to pass through
the eyes of a needle than for a
politician to achieve greatness”.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151102-jonathan-blasts-past-nigerian-rulers-says-they-are-lesser-than-mandela.html

I am sure he meant it is truly easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a politician to achieve greatness who are the people writing speeches for our leaders? If they are not up to the task, I can do better

uhmmm

See retardeen dey open him gob spew nonsense when he is in actual fact the worst Nigerian president that ever ruled

Pot calling kettle black. Is this not the same man that literally threw ex-governor Silva out of Bayelsa govt house using all govt apparatus? Is it not the same man that has sworn to finish Amaechi just because he (ameachi) refused to be an asss licker like Akpabio? Is it not the same man who continuously harassed the defunct G7 with the Nigerian Police. Is it not the same man who deployed security forces to kill innocent Nigerians during the fuel subsidy protest? Mind you, I aint holding brief for any politician 'cos they 're all the same,but Gej should think sometimes before he talks

I just laugh when I see all this politicians exalting Mandela, when all they would get when they die is 3% fake tributes and 97% go to hell prayers. People wake up every morning to tnk God for the life of Mandela in SA, while people wake up to curse and swear on our Nigerian politicians xpecially this brother Jona accusing ex-presidents of what he's currently doing worse.

Very soon he will end up like the rest of them..

Meanwhile most of these leaders are still alive to which he even called IBB his 'father'. Could you call your father those names? You must be a bast**d then!
This man does not know that by his utterances he is voting himself back to Otuoke.

I hope gej will not soon deny saying this. Pot calling kettle black.

Nigeria has no great politician - Jonathan


PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, looked at the qualities of politicians in the country, including himself, and concluded that not a single one could be regarded as great.

He was speaking during a memorial service organised at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja, in honour of the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, who died last week Thursday at the age of 95.

The president observed that it would be easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for Nigerian politicians to be truly great in the mould of the late African statesman.

According to Jonathan, “if you listen to those of us politicians in Nigeria from all political parties, I am here, Senate President is here, the Deputy Speaker is here, incidentally, we are all from PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), but if you listen to those of us who are politicians, from all the political parties, the way we talk, some of us see as if Nigeria is personal bedroom they have control over.

“If you read the papers, listen to the radio and television, some of us even see ourselves as if we are tin gods. We intimidate, we threaten, we show hate in our communication. These are not the virtues of great men. They are certainly the vices of tiny men.

“Sometimes when I listen to politicians, the ones older than me, my contemporaries, and even the younger ones, I come to the painful conclusion that it is probably easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a politician to be truly great.

“I always look at the word great with some kind of spectrum, because making a great name is not just enough. You could see it, especially in the political circle. We have so many great names that are dictators, with repressive and oppressive governments that sent a lot of people to detention. Some people become extremely notorious, but they have made great names and so to be truly great is key.”


The president, who said he never met Mandela before his death, described him as a great man who everyone needed to emulate in order to build a better society.

He observed that the late former South African president was a very humble and rare leader, who had a forgiving spirit and selflessly served his country.

“Nelson Mandela was a rare character that those of us who are politicians need to learn from, so that we will imbibe some of these traits and do better for our country,” he said.

He said Mandela did well as a politician, as he showed that one could be a politician and still be truly great by putting the interest of his nation and the people first before his own interest.

Jonathan explained that the reason Nigeria was celebrating Mandela was because of the strong relationship that existed between both countries and the key role Nigeria played during the anti-apartheid struggle.

Noting that Mandela remained the symbol of the struggle, Jonathan added “we saw the pain of South Africans as our pain. We saw their struggle as our own struggle and when apartheid collapsed, we saw their victory as our own victory.

“That is why when the Madiba, the symbol of the apartheid struggle, passed on, we believe South Africans are feeling the pains and sorrow but, at the same time, they are celebrating Nelson Mandela and we believe Nigeria must join them and support them.”

The church service, which witnessed tributes paid to the late Mandela, was attended by Senate President, David Mark; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Reverend Matthew Kukah; Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, among others.

The First Lady, Patience, took the first bible lesson, while the second lesson was read by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, stressed the need to remember those who fought with Mandela.

He urged African leaders to continue to fight social and institutional injustices across the continent, as a way of paying tribute to Mandela.

The South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Chris Mamazulu, narrated the history of Mandela during and after the anti-apartheid liberation struggle in South Africa.

He thanked the people and government of Nigeria for their support to his country during the apartheid era.

Meanwhile, Jonathan will leave Abuja today to join other world leaders in South Africa at events leading up to the burial of former President Mandela.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja, on Sunday, stated that the president would be accompanied by the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, to attend the memorial service for Mandela tomorrow at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

It said Jonathan will, in company with other heads of state and government, also pay last respects to Mandela at the lying-in-state on Wednesday at the Union Building, Pretoria, where he served as South Africa’s first democratically-elected president.

At the conclusion of the event in Pretoria on Wednesday, Jonathan will leave for Nairobi to attend Kenya’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations before returning to the country on Thursday.


http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/lead-stories/item/28143-nigeria-has-no-great-politician-jonathan-%E2%80%A2says-g5-govs%E2%80%99-defection-won%E2%80%99t-affect-pdp.html

soe:

I am sure he meant it is truly easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a politician to achieve greatness who are the people writing speeches for our leaders? If they are not up to the task, I can do better

Who told you he read a prepared speech?

Jonathan just told you the truth

This man is just as named, a fuckin retardiho..
The hypes abt this mandela is getting more irking by the day!

Didn't the man just stayed in jail for 27yrs for wot he bilivd in and then freed?

The only thing i commended him for was that he didn't come back to incite hatred among the whites and blacks!

Not witstanding, there are still a large difference btw these two in S.A!


Did jonathan even knw the part those 'past leaders' played in securing mandela's release and in S.A's independence?

Wow
Someone pointing out specks in people's eyes yet logs reside in his own

Princess2be: GEJ is really making sense here.
APC........GO AND DIE!

u r they pple that give dis jonathan bad names. Now the guy did nt mention any political party and here u r tagging APC to what he said.

Speaking at a memorial service in honour of late Mandela at the Aso Rock Chapel in Abuja on Sunday, Mr. Jonathan said contrary to Mr. Mandela who was filled with humility, forgiving spirit and the ability to unite and reunite people, past Nigerian rulers played repressive roles during their reigns.

Jona is now towing the part of failure also, one day some body will accused him of entrench corruption and nepotism in nigeria

So Goodluck Jonathan sees himself as the real Mandela? I now see that he asked Doyin Okupe to make that statement.