₦airaland Forum

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday gave an insight into the fate that awaits him under the incoming government of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), saying he and ministers as well as other aides who served under him would be persecuted.

He said he and his ministers would have hard times because of some critical decisions they took while in office.

Jonathan also looked back at all the benefits that had come his way as a Nigerian, saying he was ready to pay the supreme price for the nation.

The President spoke at a thanksgiving and farewell service organised in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

Jonathan who was accompanied by his wife, Patience, said considering what God had done in his life, he wished he could dance like the biblical King David but he kept missing his steps whenever he made attempts.

He said only a few Nigerians within his age bracket were as lucky as he is because he had not suffered any lack, not because he is hardworking but by the grace of God.

He said after reflecting on the benefits which included the scholarships he enjoyed in school and the various political offices he had occupied, he should be able to do anything in the interest of the country, including paying the supreme price.

He added that he is leaving office of the President as a fulfilled and very happy man.

Jonathan said, “I want to thank God for what he has done for me and my family. I wish to dance more than David, if I tried to dance, I missed my steps.

“I have all the reasons to thank God. Very few of those in my age brackets have been that lucky. All through my education I was on government scholarship. I have not suffered lack not because I am hardworking, but by God’s grace.

“When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the President of this country, I say that if soldiers and police officers that have not received 0. 5 percent of the benefits that I have received from the state can lay their lives for this country, I should do anything in the interest of Nigeria, including paying the supreme price.

“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person.

“I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor and the whole country gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and then President, first was to complete the tenure of the late president and later serve as President from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man.”

Saying that hard decisions have their own cost, Jonathan said he was ready to pay for some of the costly decisions he took while in charge of the country.

He said experience had shown him that people would at a time desert anybody who takes tough decisions like he did.

He said he had always hold the belief that more of his friends would desert him as time goes on.

He recalled the story of the last ruler of apartheid South Africa who was divorced by his wife for accepting to abolish minority rule in the country, and said jokingly that he hoped his wife will not also divorce him after he might left office.

Mrs. Jonathan replied with a shout of “Nooooo”.

Her response was greeted with a loud applause by congregation members.

The President also prepared the minds of the ministers and aides who served under him, saying though times await them all.

He said, “I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt about that.

“That I have ran the government this way that stabilised certain things, the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country. They were very costly decisions which I myself must be ready to pay for.

“Some people come to me and say this or that person, is he not your friend that benefitted? Is it not your government that this person benefitted from? But this is what the person is saying.

“But I used to say that worse statements will come. If you take certain decisions, you should know that those close to you will even abandon you at some point.

“And I tell them that more of my so-called friends will disappear. When FW De Clark took the decision to abolish minority rule in RSA, even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made RSA to still remain a global player by this time. If we still had that minority rule there, by this time, nobody will be talking about RSA.

“If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.

“Quoting Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough. To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times, we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough.”

Jonathan however said he was happy that the ordinary people appreciate what he did and that, according to him, is the most important.

He said it was not what the elite or the privileged few talk or say about his administration that matters but what the majority of the Nigerian public think about his actions and inactions.

He expressed delight that he came to Abuja with his family peacefully and they are returning peacefully.

The President thanked the church and Nigerians for standing by him even at his most difficult times.

He said even on the March 28 presidential election which he lost to Buhari, there were many people who supported him nationwide.

Despite exiting the Presidential Villa, Jonathan promised that he would continue to pray for the country and the Buhari administration.

He said the outcome of the election went that way because God wanted it to be so for a purpose.

“Even for the election, we had people who supported us all over the country but things went the way they did because God wanted it that way for a purpose.

“We will continue to pray for the peace of the country and for the success of the incoming administration.

“When the country is in good shape, people benefit. When things are going well, people are happy. You don’t need to know Mr. President or Mr. Governor.

“The issue is not about Jonathan or Buhari or any other person. The issue is how the government functions: stability, buoyant economy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and live happy. That is our interest, that is my prayer point.

“All religious groups should pray for the country,” he concluded.

Jonathan thereafter requested that his favourite him, “Stand by me” be sung again.

He said apart from inspiring him, the hymn makes him aware of the fact that whatever one does there will be storms.

He said the assurance in the hymn was that once such a person means well for the people, God will always stand by him.

MichaelSokoto:
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday gave an
insight into the fate that awaits him under the
incoming government of the President-elect, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), saying he and ministers
as well as other aides who served under him would
be persecuted.
He said he and his ministers would have hard times
because of some critical decisions they took while in
office.
Jonathan also looked back at all the benefits that had
come his way as a Nigerian, saying he was ready to
pay the supreme price for the nation.
The President spoke at a thanksgiving and farewell
service organised in his honour at the Cathedral
Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Jonathan who was accompanied by his wife, Patience,
said considering what God had done in his life, he
wished he could dance like the biblical King David but
he kept missing his steps whenever he made
attempts.
He said only a few Nigerians within his age bracket
were as lucky as he is because he had not suffered
any lack, not because he is hardworking but by the
grace of God.
He said after reflecting on the benefits which
included the scholarships he enjoyed in school and
the various political offices he had occupied, he
should be able to do anything in the interest of the
country, including paying the supreme price.
He added that he is leaving office of the President as
a fulfilled and very happy man.
Jonathan said, “I want to thank God for what he has
done for me and my family. I wish to dance more
than David, if I tried to dance, I missed my steps.
“I have all the reasons to thank God. Very few of
those in my age brackets have been that lucky. All
through my education I was on government
scholarship. I have not suffered lack not because I
am hardworking, but by God’s grace.
“When I look at the whole picture of my life up to
when I became the President of this country, I say
that if soldiers and police officers that have not
received 0. 5 percent of the benefits that I have
received from the state can lay their lives for this
country, I should do anything in the interest of
Nigeria, including paying the supreme price.
“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the
state because the state has helped me as a person.
“I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for
giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy
governor and the whole country gave me the
opportunity to serve as Vice President and then
President, first was to complete the tenure of the
late president and later serve as President from
which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled
man.”
Saying that hard decisions have their own cost,
Jonathan said he was ready to pay for some of the
costly decisions he took while in charge of the
country.
He said experience had shown him that people
would at a time desert anybody who takes tough
decisions like he did.
He said he had always hold the belief that more of
his friends would desert him as time goes on.
He recalled the story of the last ruler of apartheid
South Africa who was divorced by his wife for
accepting to abolish minority rule in the country, and
said jokingly that he hoped his wife will not also
divorce him after he might left office.
Mrs. Jonathan replied with a shout of “Nooooo”.
Her response was greeted with a loud applause by
congregation members.
The President also prepared the minds of the
ministers and aides who served under him, saying
though times await them all.
He said, “I believe there are reasons for everything.
Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt
about that.
“That I have ran the government this way that
stabilised certain things, the electoral process and
other things that brought stability into this country.
They were very costly decisions which I myself must
be ready to pay for.
“Some people come to me and say this or that
person, is he not your friend that benefitted? Is it
not your government that this person benefitted
from? But this is what the person is saying.
“But I used to say that worse statements will come. If
you take certain decisions, you should know that
those close to you will even abandon you at some
point.
“And I tell them that more of my so-called friends
will disappear. When FW De Clark took the decision
to abolish minority rule in RSA, even his wife
divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me.
But that is the only decision that has made RSA to
still remain a global player by this time. If we still
had that minority rule there, by this time, nobody
will be talking about RSA.
“If you take certain decisions, it might be good for
the generality of the people but it might affect
people differently. So for ministers and aides who
served with me, I sympathise with them, they will be
persecuted. And they must be ready for that
persecution.
“Quoting Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough. To my
ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will
have hard times, we will all have hard times. Our
ways will be rough.”
Jonathan however said he was happy that the
ordinary people appreciate what he did and that,
according to him, is the most important.
He said it was not what the elite or the privileged
few talk or say about his administration that matters
but what the majority of the Nigerian public think
about his actions and inactions.
He expressed delight that he came to Abuja with his
family peacefully and they are returning peacefully.
The President thanked the church and Nigerians for
standing by him even at his most difficult times.
He said even on the March 28 presidential election
which he lost to Buhari, there were many people
who supported him nationwide.
Despite exiting the Presidential Villa, Jonathan
promised that he would continue to pray for the
country and the Buhari administration.
He said the outcome of the election went that way
because God wanted it to be so for a purpose.
“Even for the election, we had people who supported
us all over the country but things went the way they
did because God wanted it that way for a purpose.
“We will continue to pray for the peace of the
country and for the success of the incoming
administration.
“When the country is in good shape, people benefit.
When things are going well, people are happy. You
don’t need to know Mr. President or Mr. Governor.
“The issue is not about Jonathan or Buhari or any
other person. The issue is how the government
functions: stability, buoyant economy that will enable
Nigeria to move forward and live happy. That is our
interest, that is my prayer point.
“All religious groups should pray for the country,” he
concluded.
Jonathan thereafter requested that his favourite
him, “Stand by me” be sung again.
He said apart from inspiring him, the hymn makes
him aware of the fact that whatever one does there
will be storms.
He said the assurance in the hymn was that once
such a person means well for the people, God will always stand bt him.


www.punchng.com/news/my-ministers-and-i-will-be-persecuted-says-jonathan/

Seun, Lalasticlala

kathykathy:
GMB will definitely suffer not d witch to live,,,,GEJ forget dat tin mehn,,,,in phyno's voice* GERRAWT

scarred9jan:
I wonder who feeds Jonathan with lies, De klerk divorced Marike because he was having an affair and not because she hated majority rule. And they got divorced 4 years after Mandela became president.

The president tries to talk like he is smart.....

doctokwus:
Its good he starts preparing their minds for what is in store for them all.
I would also advice that they all do as one prominent Nigerian personality, Gani Fayehinmi,if am not mistaken, once did;that is,pack a small bag they should always travel with,because after may 29,any one of them could be picked up by d efcc,police, sss or police,to come answer fraud/criminal allegations,from where they cud move from a interrogation centre,to court,to prison.
So a small bag equipped with d basic essentials of daily living,would come in handy for them all.

bishopjoe02:
Do you really think Jonathan will spend time in prison why Amaechi who uses river allocation and Rochas who used 13 months salary of Imo workers to campaign for buhari enjoy presidential handshake from buhari. .