I’m not bothered about criticisms - President Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he is not bothered about negative comments some people make about him. He said he is only concerned about how he will be remembered by present and future Nigerians after leaving office. Jonathan, who likened holding political offices to death, described the world as a stage where everybody must play his part.
He suggested that politicians should
make the thoughts of how they would be remembers after leaving office
their guiding principle.
Speaking at the funeral of his
mother-in-law, Late Mrs. Charity Oba, in Okrika Local Government Area of
Rivers State, the President extolled the virtues of her wife’s foster
mother, adding that the deceased played her part well while on earth.
“To me as a political leader and most of
my friends here who are politicians, politics or holding political
offices is almost like death. While you are there, you are on the stage.
The day you leave, what would people
remember you for? That has always
been my guiding principle.
“No matter the comments; whether the
comments are to the left or the comments are to the right or at the
centre, what challenges me everyday is what the present and future
generations of Nigerians will remember me for the day I step out of the
State House.
“I believe that is what will guide most
of us who are holding political offices. So, for today, I have to thank
you. Sisi has done well and we are remembering her. My family is the
family that will surely remember her.
“In fact when her biography was being
read, my children were crying. My children appear to be the last set of
children that she brought up. That should tell you how we feel about
her. As a mother-in-law, she was a wonderful woman.
“If you have such a lady as a
mother-in-law, you will continue to thank God. Though she stayed very
shortly, but we are happy and we will continue to remember her and all
the things she did to support my wife and me. I enjoined all of you to
pray for her that the soul of Mama Sisi rest in the bossom of the Lord,”
the President said.
He described the death of her mother-in-law as painful, adding that her wife’s mother left when the ovation was very loud.
According to him, “It is painful, but
also reminds me about the word of Shakespeare that we all come to earth
and the world is a stage where we will all play our part. In one way or
the other, we will play our part.”
