President Goodluck Jonathan
Ernest Chinwo
President Goodluck Jonathan said he was not deterred by criticisms but remained focused on the legacies he would leave behind when he vacates office.
He said he remained probably the most criticised Nigerian president but that he would allow posterity to judge him on his achievements when he leaves office. He stated this at Okrika at the burial ceremony of the foster mother where the drums were rolled out as tens of thousands of people paid their last respects to the late Madam Charity Oba, foster mother of the First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
He said, “In a moment like this, one thing that consoles me is the hymn we sang, which said, ‘Fading away like the stars of the morning, only to be remembered by what we have done’. So, it is left for all of us who are here on earth to play our roles and we know that surely we will die; I think the key thing is what will we be remembered for.
“Today, as political leaders, politics or holding political offices are almost like death, while you are there, you are on the stage, the day you leave, what will people remember you for? That is the only reason I am not deterred by criticism, no matter whether the comment is coming from the right on from the left. What challenges me every day is that the day I will leave that State House, what will the present and future generation of Nigerians remember me for?”
He extolled the virtues of the late Madam Oba and urged Nigerians to emulate her qualities of quality service to her family.
“Sisi (Madam Oba) 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 would 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 me and my wife. I enjoin all of you to pray for her that the soul of Mama Sisi rest in the bosom of the Lord,” Jonathan said.
In her speech, Dame Patience Jonathan, described her late foster mother as caring and loving, adding that when Madam Oba was alive, she Jonathan did not know the prices of foodstuff as the late mother was always providing the family with necessary foodstuff. She, amidst tears, said the family would always remember her for the way she catered for the family and all who came in contact with her. Various youth groups danced round the community, just as businessmen and women made brisk business as top government officials, politicians and people of all walks of life converged on Okrika in their thousands to join the first family in bidding farewell to the late Madam Oba.
Each ‘War Canoe House’ (family) was savouring the two cows, two bags o rice and cash given to them by the burial committee, and had traditional dance groups performing in their localities, adding to the celebration mood in the community.
Dignitaries that attended the ceremony included Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, all the governors of the South-south states and from other states of the federation; Senate President, David Mark; Senate Leader, Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha; members of the National Assembly, ministers and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Others include Nollywood stars led by their patron, former militant, Tom Ateke, and thousands of politicians from both divide of the Rivers State crisis.
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