President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to Nigerians for forgiveness. He also pleaded for their understanding.
Jonathan spoke yesterday at the Aso Villa Chapel, where a valedictory service was held for him, to mark the end of his five year reign in Nigeria. Jonathan who noted that no system including his administration is perfect, urged Nigerians to forgive him in any way he has erred.
He said since nobody was perfect, there was no way he would not have done some things that some people would found annoying, saying he did not do such things deliberately. He observed that there are times one would take a decision in the best interest of all but even friends would misunderstand the situation.
The President had a word of gratitude for those who have been with them through thick and thin, noting that though, he and his wife might be leaving the corridors of power; their doors were still wide open, adding that they now hope to enjoy more cordial relationships, devoid of officialdom.
In a speech laced with emotions, Jonathan said: “Let me express our appreciation to all those who have stood by us. We came in as Vice President and wife. “Today we are leaving as former President and former First Lady. What we have achieved we did through you. Let me specifically thank the Chaplain, the clergymen, the pastors and their wives.
“For the past eight years, we have had every reason to be thankful to God. Every individual has his or her own calling. I also believe that people who take over political leadership have their own callings to do specific things. No one head of government, whether at the national level or the sub-regional levels can do everything alone.
“For the eight years that one has been here, no one has been perfect. We have certainly done things in a way that probably we wouldn’t have done, but we didn’t do them deliberately. “For those we have offended, it was not deliberate, but due to circumstances of the office. So we also plead that those people should forgive, as we think we did our best.
“You can do your best and your friends may misunderstand you. Today we are talking about leaving. It is only God that knows why things go the way they do. Ordinarily 24th May would have been the last service here. But on that date, we will all go to the National Christian Centre (NCC) for the inauguration service. So for my wife and I, this is our last day of worship here.
“Though we are leaving as President and First Lady, we have not left you, because we are still in this country. “We will continue to interact, and probably along the line , we may even come closer and even do more meaningful things together when we leave office. The office is quite challenging, some of you may desire to see us, I believe as we move forward, things will get better.”
Also at the service, the First Lady had revealed for the first time, her ordeals in the hands of the doctors, saying the situation was so bad she had 12 operations in one month.
She said her survival was miraculous and an indication that God had a mission for her in the world. “I really thank God for keeping me alive. People prophesied that one of us would not go back home alive. But God has made it possible that the two of us are going home healthy. In the last two years, I went through one surgery after another that came to about 12.
“Some people said I was dead but God resurrected me. We thank God that my husband and I are going back home alive. Thank God today we are leaving very much alive, hale and hearty.”
She said she never ever dreamt of being wife of even a deputy governor “because my husband was not a politician. But God made it possible and God lifted us up from deputy governor and here we are. “Therefore, we should be grateful to God for what he has done to my family and I.
“We praise God. To our followers, today it might not be too good but I want them to be grateful to God because you have followed us from when we were Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and finally, President. There is no permanent thing so I want you to take it in good faith that it is the will of God and you should be praising God.”
