Okupe rues Nigerians’ Lack of Appreciation for Jonathan
The Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, has said that the president’s attributes of meekness, restraint, reticence and calmness was unappreciated by Nigerians and mistaken for weakness, lack of strength, inaction and indecisiveness.
In a Facebook message on Sunday after the Thanksgiving and Farewell service held in honour of President Jonathan and the First Lady, at the Church of the Advent, Abuja, Okupe said:.
“A thanksgiving service was held in honour of President Jonathan and his wife. It was a lovely event though quite an emotional one too. I saw eminent men and women dabbed their eyes. I struggled with mine. This is part of the disengaging ceremonies.
In a few days President Jonathan will bow out of office gracefully and graciously.President Jonathan has done well and served his country well. He exits office as a great President. Perhaps Nigeria’s greatest President for all time. Greater than the best before him. He excelled in achievement, in humility, tranquility and simplicity.
“Nigerians misunderstood meekness for weakness, Restraint for lack of strength, reticence for inaction and calmness for indecisiveness. But History will judge differently. He will be remembered as a great man, a good man, humble and humane, purposeful and focused.
“A great African Hero who fought against all manners of evil and conspiracies Religious, ethnic, national and international, and lost the war. But ultimately triumphed because of the inherent goodness that God Almighty deposited in Him. For he said, ”My ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian.’
“Alas!! He meant what he said and stood by what he said even to his detriment and millions who believed in him. 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.
Glory be to God.
May God BLESS NIGERIA.”