By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, a NorthThe Presidency last night rose in defence of President Goodluck Jonathan for not speaking at the memorial service in honour of the former South African leader, Nelson Mandela in South Africa.The President had come under serious condemnation by critics in the social media, who wondered why he went to Johannesburg in the first place without rendering an oration in honour of Madiba as other worldleaders did.But Presidential Spokesman, Dr Reuben Abating, dismissed the attacks on the President as a classic case of much ado about nothing, as Jonathan was not billed to speak at the ceremony in the first place.According to Abati, only six out of the 100 world leaders at the event, were slated to speak and Jonathan was not one of those chosen to render any speech.“The late Madiba’s burial is not a United Nations Debating session.It is what it is a burial: a solemn, national ceremony,” Abati said.” Leaders from all over the world attended the Memorial Service topay their last respects and to identify with South Africans in their hour of grief. It was certainly not meant to be an occasion for political grandstanding or the waving of flags.“Out of about 100 world leaders who attended the event today, only six spoke at the ceremony. Itwas made clear at the occasion that the Chairman of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will speak on behalf of African leaders. And she did.“I do not agree that Nigeria was insulted in any way. It was good that President Jonathan attendedthe Memorial service and that Nigeria is in solidarity with the South Africans.“If every leader who attended theservice had been asked to say a word, the event would not have ended. There were many other leaders at the event, whose countries have strong historical and political ties with South Africa, but who did not speak.“I have not heard their compatriots crying like babies. This is obviously a further indication of a rising, minority tendency to read the negative into every official item,”Abati said. www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/jonathan-didnt-speak-mandelas-service-presidency/

Even if he was allowed to talk, would it change anything?

Even if he had spoken, it wouldn't have changed anything.

donphilopus: Even if he had spoken, it wouldn't have changed anything.

So you know it won't change anything. Why the noise then? Opposition elements should learn how to bring real issues to the table. I can't see them getting near aso rock with this media blackmail

tokunboh:

So you know it won't change anything. Why the noise then? Opposition elements should learn how to bring real issues to the table. I can't see them getting near aso rock with this media blackmail

Until you see APC celebrating their presidential swearing-in in may 29 2015, that's when you will know they are the owner of Aso Rock!

Am only happy he did not speak so that nobody will know that he only studied Zoo-Keeping and fish-farming. Also he better not murder English in that Stadium. Kudos to Jonathan for keeping silent.

Magnified insignificant issue

I hope this reply closes this useless case

“I have not heard their compatriots crying like babies. This is obviously a further indication of a rising, minority tendency to read the negative into every official item,”Abati said.




APC=Cry Cry baby

if he speaks trouble, if he doesnt speak trouble, hate kills.

Ok.

Nigerians are really funny.

Ozin: “I have not heard their compatriots crying like babies. This is obviously a further indication of a rising, minority tendency to read the negative into every official item,”Abati said.




APC=Cry Cry baby

APC, as the CHILDREN OF PAIN AND ANGER they are always find fault in order to exhibit their frustrations. lDIOTS.

egift: Am only happy he did not speak so that nobody will know that he only studied Zoo-Keeping and fish-farming. Also he better not murder English in that Stadium. Kudos to Jonathan for keeping silent.

And a jobless wastrel like you who studied rocket science is broke and stealing bread in-between hawking expired, rotten cashew. Worthless.

Much Ado about nothing, really. But please tell oga Jona not to rename Zuma rock in Abuja in retaliation o.
You can't put anything past him.

Hahaha ...so why Ban Ki Moon nor speak on behalf of the rest of the world? Ta ....useless excuse He probably was drunk on flight again ...at least I've not seen any photograph of him there (I beg to be proved wrong).

ROSSIKE: And a jobless wastrel like you who studied rocket science is broke and stealing bread in-between hawking expired, rotten cashew. Worthless.

PDP = The children of cluelessness, anger, insults and pains

egift:

PDP = The children of cluelessness, anger, insults and pains

In the word of an APC Governor: GO AND DIE..

pigin: In the word of an APC Governor: GO AND DIE..

indeed... Dat serves dem right. APC shuld go and die lik ane of dem has askd dem 2

donphilopus: Until you see APC celebrating their presidential swearing-in in may 29 2015, that's when you will know they are the owner of Aso Rock!

Half of the country might appear dumb to you now cos your blackmail and propaganda seems to resonate with them but trust me, Nigerians will sit down and evaluate issues holistically when it comes to election proper, then shall you be roundly trounced like the kindergarten president did to your sorry selves in 2011. Kudos to GEJ for ensuring free and fair election in the south west, if he had done it the obasanjo way, would your sorry selves have won in any of the south western states? He might just sit back and look this time

tokunboh:

Half of the country might appear dumb to you now cos your blackmail and propaganda seems to resonate with them but trust me, Nigerians will sit down and evaluate issues holistically when it comes to election proper, then shall you be roundly trounced like the kindergarten president did to your sorry selves in 2011. Kudos to GEJ for ensuring free and fair election in the south west, if he had done it the obasanjo way, would your sorry selves have won in any of the south western states? He might just sit back and look this time

Don't say so again! Because he lost SW to us, as a result of his cluelessness.

What was he supposed to say if he was to speak? That he is Nigeria's Mandela? Oh please!

ebele no sabi tok, d guy for fvck up...tnk God dem no allow am disgrace himsef and nigeria

Talk is cheap. What would it had changed about the poor leadership Nigeria has received over the years? I think whatever snubb my President got was a collective national embarrassment for the country's failings and not about GEJ. The earlier you get it that Nigeria has long gone to the dogs and merely patching up, the better!

egift: Am only happy he did not speak so that nobody will know that he only studied Zoo-Keeping and fish-farming. Also he better not murder English in that Stadium. Kudos to Jonathan for keeping silent.

imagin...nd xom pipo managed to lyk dis clueless comment
mtcheeew

bigtt76: Hahaha ...so why Ban Ki Moon nor speak on behalf of the rest of the world? Ta ....useless excuse He probably was drunk on flight again ...at least I've not seen any photograph of him there (I beg to be proved wrong).

Those who have TVs saw him.

because Jonathan is not a real President... like Obama.. and others.. Nigeria is not a country but a regional body.

If you check South africa record. Western Nigeria had an embassy in South africa many years ago before the illegal occupation by Northerners.

Mandela is my family friend.. So he would have know, I was not telling a lie. And he knew the truth because he was involve in it at that time. And spoke against the illegal occupation by Northerners in western Nigeria.

The northerners and easterners were part of what lead Mandela to return back and they arrest mandela after that. Mandela was jail for 27 years after that.
because of what they did, they the northerners for many years refuse to back the release of mandela, since they control the government of Nigeria

When the leaders of Western Nigeria which offer protection for Mandela were arrest. The Northerners and Easterners were involve in the arrest of nelson mandela.

Comedy central

Now the evil progressives can now rest. Abati Thank you very much for clearing the air.

musiwa112: because Jonathan is not a real President... like Obama.. and others.. Nigeria is not a country but a regional body.

If you check South africa record. Western Nigeria had an embassy in South africa many years ago before the illegal occupation by Northerners.

Mandela is my family friend.. So he would have know, I was not telling a lie. And he knew the truth because he was involve in it at that time. And spoke against the illegal occupation by Northerners in western Nigeria.

The northerners and easterners were part of what lead Mandela to return back and they arrest mandela after that. Mandela was jail for 27 years after that.
because of what they did, they the northerners for many years refuse to back the release of mandela, since they control the government of Nigeria

When the leaders of Western Nigeria which offer protection for Mandela were arrest. The Northerners and Easterners were involve in the arrest of nelson mandela.

Go and Die