By FEMI SALAWU
Emotions rose high as eminent personalities broke down in tears at a farewell and thanksgiving service organized for President Goodluck Jonathan at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
First Lady, Patience Jonathan and other eminent personalities fought back hot tears during an emotional speech by President Goodluck Jonathan.
During his speech, President Jonathan said that experience had shown him that people would at a time desert anybody who took “hard decisions” like he did while in office.
Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Affairs, Doyin Okupe noted, “It was a lovely event though quite an emotional one too. I saw eminent men and women dabbed their eyes. I struggled with mine.”
The President recalled the story of the last ruler of apartheid South Africa, Frederik de Klerk noting how he was divorced by his wife for accepting to abolish minority rule in the country.
He looked at the first lady and asked jokingly if his wife, Patience, would not also divorce him after the end of his tenure on May 29.
Wasting no time, Mrs Jonathan enthusiastically responded with a resounding shout of “Nooooo.”
Okupe counseled, “Nigerians don’t weep for Jonathan. Rather weep and pray that our Nation will remain United and stable, that it’s people will prosper and that God will guide our in coming leaders right and endow them with the competency of His Wisdom to lead us aright.
“We bow out with malice to no man and goodwill to all. Personally I thank God for another opportunity to serve a second Nigerian President. I have no regrets only joy and peace.
“I stood for Jonathan. I still stand by him and he will always be my President weather winning whether losing, in victory and in defeat.”
