I Can’t Thank Nigerians Enough – Jonathan

Bayelsa State Government on Friday held
a grand civic reception in Yenagoa, the
state capital, for the immediate past
President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.
Men, women and youths trooped out in
their numbers to give Jonathan and his
wife, Patience, a rousing welcome.
Speaking at the civic reception which
was held at the Gabriel Okara Cultural
Centre,Yenagoa, the out-gone President
expressed gratitude to Nigerians for
giving the opportunity to serve.
Jonathan, who went down memory lane
on how he was “brought into politics
from obscurity” by the former Governor
of Bayelsa State, Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, said he would not be
able to pay back the much that Nigerians
had given him.
He said he would remain grateful to the
people of Bayelsa, the Ijaw nation and
Nigeria for the rare privileges they
bestowed on him over the years.
Jonathan reiterated that he would
dedicate his future to peace building
across the land.
“I remain grateful to all Nigerians. I
remain grateful to the people of Bayelsa
for the rare privileges. Nigerians have
given me so much that I can’t pay back”,
he said.
Expressing gladness at the honour done
him and his wife by the government and
people of the state, he noted that such
honour was not common because
“sometimes you are afraid to go home
because you may not have satisfied
every one”.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari
for declaring that “he does not belong to
any clique” in the country and expressed
the hope that the new administration
would work with all Nigerians for the
development of the nation.
In his remark, the Governor of Bayelsa
State, Seriake Dickson, described
Jonathan as “the hero and father of
modern democracy in Nigeria”.
While welcoming Jonathan back home,
he said he was,however,saddened by the
fact that this would be last time he would
receive Jonathan as President.
Dickson warned that it was too early for
those mocking the Ijaw nation to laugh,
stressing that “we may be down but not
out”.
Also speaking, the chairman of the state
Traditional Rulers Council and first
military administrator of Old Rivers
State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, remarked
that the late Obafemi Awolowo craved to
govern Nigeria for only one day but
Jonathan got the uncommon privilege of
governing the country for six years.