President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday declared that he can lay down his life for the greatness of Nigeria.
The President made the declaration at a thanksgiving service organized in his honour at the Anglican Church, Life Camp, Abuja.
Jonathan specifically assured that he will continue to give his best to the Nigeria, including laying down his life for its greatness.
The country, he pointed out, has given him a lot right from his primary school days to the present moment when he is bowing out as a very happy and fulfilled man.
The President stated that he has every reason to thank his home state of Bayelsa and the country at large for all the opportunities he had to serve.
He noted that not many persons in his generation had been as fortunate as he had been in his political career.
Jonathan recalled that he had gotten everything from the country on a platter of gold having attained primary and secondary education as well as first and second university degrees on government scholarship.
He disclosed that he didn’t even have to pay for his PhD course because his then employers paid.
The President stated that if soldiers and police officers, who do not earn anything close to him die while protecting him and other Nigerians, it won’t be too much if he also sacrifices all he has including his life for the country.
His words, “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 down 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 served as President from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man,” the President said amidst wild applause from the congregation. The President said before he was a able to clean up the country’s electoral process and achieve other reforms, he had to take certain hard decisions which may have caused him reelection.
Giving insight into what he expects after leaving office, Jonathan predicted that his ministers and aides will be persecuted, while most of his fiends will also desert him in the days ahead.
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, saying jocularly that he hoped his wife will not also divorce him for accepting defeat in the last Presidential election.
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan who had accompanied her husband to the ceremony, replied with a resounding “Nooooo” which drew another applause from the worshippers.
Speaking earlier, former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana described the President as man who was favored by God in many ways, thanking God for what He used Jonathan to achieve for the country.
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