President Goodluck
Jonathan on Sunday lampooned Nigerian political class, stressing that most of them lack
the qualities of just departed icon, Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
“If you listen to those of us who are politicians
in Nigeria from all political parties… the way
we talk, some of us (behave) as if Nigeria is
their personal bedroom, that they have control
over… some of us even see ourselves as if we
are tiny 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”, the President said at a memorial
service in honour of the late former South
African President at the Aso Rock Chapel,
Abuja.
Jonathan who said he never met Mandela
described Mandela popularly referred to as
Mandiba by his people as “a rare character
that those of us who are politicians need to
learn from so that we will imbibe some of his
traits and do better for our country”.
Jonathan urged politicians to emulate the late
Mandela’s politics of humility, peace and
reconciliation as against that of bitterness and
character assassination.
He said Mandela was filled with humility,
spirit of forgiveness and the ability to unite
people.
“This is in contrast with the utterances of
Nigerian politicians who speak as if Nigeria is
their bedroom from where they make
unguarded utterances and intimidate others,”
he said.
The President stressed that politicians had
been threatening, boasting and attempting to
play little gods by virtue of their positions,
adding, “They are no more than tiny men.’’
According to him, with such attitude, it will be
easier for the camel to pass through the eye of
a needle than for a politician to achieve
greatness.
Jonathan decried the attitude of such
politicians bent on over heating the polity.
He harped on the need for all politicians to
always exhibit the virtues of leadership that
Mandela worked for and exhibited.
Jonathan said government declared three days
mourning for Mandela because Nigeria played
a key role in South African anti-apartheid
liberation struggle and to remind everyone of
their links with fellow Africans.

Ken_Jak: Yes of course and even the Jonathan himself.

bloggernaija: Yes,
Disturbing the peace of the democratically elected sovereign of a state (amaechi)and preventing him from fulfilling his constitution duties .
Yes,

You jonathan comes to mind.

Aigbofa: True. A billion naira food money and your wife bringing cities to a standstill because she's in town does not help your own image as well.
Not to mention your lackadaisical attitude to corruption.

Sealeddeal: we have read this trash over and over. you should find another one.