President Goodluck Jonathan has said he is not ready to join issues with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the latter’s decision to tear his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card. Jonathan, who granted an interview to a team of Nigerian Tribune editors, in Lagos, on Thursday, said that senior citizens must always remember the need to keep Nigeria united even when they have cause to disagree politically. President Jonathan stated that Obasanjo remained his father, adding that disagreement should be expected between political children and their father.
When asked to comment on his quarrel with the former president and tell Nigerians exactly what was responsible for the criticisms he (Obasanjo) had launched against him in recent times, Jonathan said: “First and foremost, Obasanjo is a father to me. By divine providence and the grace of God, I am the President of Nigeria today. It is not by my strength. But God uses human beings to actualise His own blessings on human beings. And He used so many Nigerians, including former President Obasanjo, to play one role or the other for me. I became the deputy governor of a state, became the governor, the vice president and president. I have no issues with him, and I really don’t want to join issues with President Obasanjo. I think it is not necessary.”
“But I will use this opportunity, because you asked, to just plead with my father that he is a leader, a former president of the country. He has led the country more than anybody — eight years of democratic governance and almost four years of military governance. No other person has that kind of record. The stability of this country is critical in terms of the economy of this country. Rating agencies downgrade countries that are going into elections because the feeling is that there would be crisis. When you paint the colour of instability for your own nation, you are doing so much injustice to the country because it affects the economy of the country, not just affecting the country in terms of security and social issues alone. It affects the economy directly. So, I plead with very senior citizens that Nigeria is dear to us; we don’t have any other country than Nigeria.
“So, actions and inactions, or utterances, should be guarded so that we don’t expose our country to the international community as if it is a country in danger, a country that is about to collapse. You are frightening investors, especially those who invest hot cash, to pull out their money from the country and that would affect the stock market and it would affect the economy.
“For one reason or the other, Obasanjo may disagree with me as his first political son. You can even disagree with your own biological children, as a human being, not to talk of disagreeing with your political children. So, he can agree or disagree with me, but the utterances have to be managed in a way that it does not affect the economy and security of this country.”
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Posted: at 21-02-2015 07:27 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
EmekaBlue at 21-02-2015 07:39 AM (9 years ago) (m)
C ur lyf OBJ....we go mock u die
Posted: at 21-02-2015 07:39 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
dafemoclassi at 21-02-2015 07:50 AM (9 years ago) (m)
SENSELESS & UNGRATEFUL PRESIDENT WHO ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE CONTROLED BY FOOLISH WIFE-PATIENCE ? BIG THANKS TO SULE LAMIDO- JIGAWA STATE GOVERNOR WHO WAKE JONATHAN UP FROM HIS SLUMBER
Posted: at 21-02-2015 07:50 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
victorstic1 at 21-02-2015 07:55 AM (9 years ago) (m)
JONA I LIKE UR WORD OF WISDOM AM SURE IF U HAD USE THIS WISDOM FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS THE COUNTRY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN THIS! ANYWAY U STILL HAVE FEW DAYS TO ERRADICATE BOKO HARAM AND BRING BACK THE LOST GLORY OF NIGERIA SO HELP U GOD
Posted: at 21-02-2015 07:55 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Absolutely u need his support to win d election. I know u people always have group behind group, caucus behind cacaus. U surely meet somewhere u and OBJ. Daris god o
Posted: at 21-02-2015 08:51 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
INSIDE THIS MAN I SEE GOODNESS I SEE LOVE OF THE NATION. HE IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THIS NATION THOUGH HE HAS THE WRONGEST WOMAN FOR THIS NATION AS WIFE. BUT JEG IS NOT A BAD MAN HE IS A GOOD MAN. MAY GOD HELP U MY PRESIDENT. GOD WILL SEE U THRU THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION
Posted: at 21-02-2015 10:21 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
igbinedios at 21-02-2015 11:46 AM (9 years ago) (m)
good words from my president, but, one more thing sir! believe me, Obj, is a true father to U, listen to him, for (power could be highly dangerous if not use wel), many around u, 're for d money, not for ur future my presido.
Posted: at 21-02-2015 11:46 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
See humility in a man,very respectful.OBJ shame to you,this is to tell you that your cooking up stories to destabilize GEJ is in vain,he doesn't have your time.
Posted: at 21-02-2015 11:55 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
oloche1984 at 21-02-2015 01:28 PM (9 years ago) (m)
see maturity, old age is begining to count on our father Obasanjo so i wish the press don't bring it raw some of the things he says or do. God bless Nigeria, GEJ carry on, it's your turn
Posted: at 21-02-2015 01:28 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
osarobo62 at 21-02-2015 02:55 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: igbinedios on 21-02-2015 11:46 AM
good words from my president, but, one more thing sir! believe me, Obj, is a true father to U, listen to him, for (power could be highly dangerous if not use wel), many around u, 're for d money, not for ur future my presido.
that's the whole truth. all nigerians ask from him is to lead the country in an honest, corrupt free and progressive way.....not this chop-and-quench regressive manner that is currently going on
Posted: at 21-02-2015 02:55 PM (9 years ago) | Hero
SENSELESS & UNGRATEFUL PRESIDENT WHO ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE CONTROLED BY FOOLISH WIFE-PATIENCE ? BIG THANKS TO SULE LAMIDO- JIGAWA STATE GOVERNOR WHO WAKE JONATHAN UP FROM HIS SLUMBER
@dafemoclassi, what has the president said that warrant those insults you poured on him. You must be a BASTARD from the animal kingdom living among sane human being. For God sake, don't you have an iota of respect for your president?. A position you and your generation will never attain until you are wipe out from the surface of this earth.
Posted: at 21-02-2015 05:07 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
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