Mandela: Nigerian politicians are dictators – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday gave a damning submission that many of the great names among Nigeria’s political class are dictators that are only after selfish gains.
The President was speaking at the special church service held in honour of the late first black President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, at the Aso Villa Chapel at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said every politician should strive to emulate Mandela, whom he described as an embodiment of sacrifice and selfless service, but regretted that should some Nigerian politicians have their ways, they would not hesitate to turn the country into their ‘bedroom’.
President Jonathan, who eulogized the ‘great’ Madiba, said he was a great man that every politician should emulate if truly we want to build a better society.
He however noted with dismay that Nigerian politicians seem not interested in attaining greatness going by their utterances and conducts
Though he said he never met the late Mandela, he however said he had also shown that one can be a politician and still be truly great by putting the interest of his nation and the people first before his personal interest.
President Jonathan said: “If you listen to those of us who are 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 behave as if Nigeria is their personal bedroom, that they have control over.
“If you read the papers, listen to the radio, the television, 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.
“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 skeptism 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 send 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.
“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.”
Explaining why Nigeria is celebrating the late South African leader, the President said Nigeria has strong relationship with South Africa, having played key role during the anti-apartheid struggle, which Mandela championed.
According to him: “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 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 special service was attended by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who took the first Bible lesson from Psalm 100: 1-5; while the second lesson was read Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihediora, from Luke17: 11-19.
Also in attendance were Senate President, David Mark, ministers and top government functionaries.
Others included the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Reverend Matthew Kukah; Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh; and representatives of the Pope in Nigeria.
The dignitaries present paid tribute to the late Madiba, while songs were rendered by the choir from the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society and the Aso Rock choir.
Also, prayers were offered for Nigeria, South African people and for the repose of the soul of Mandela.