14 Jonathan quotes that Nigerians can relate to
The story of the former president Goodluck Jonathan has always been described as a journey of from ‘grass to grace'. He is the son of a canoe makers, who rose from the position of a deputy governor of Bayelsa state to becoming Nigeria’s president in 2010.
Jonathan's government has largely been described as corrupt. The expectation of delivering the best of administration to Nigerians was dashed when the country faced lots of turbulent times during this administration. Despite the odds, his name cannot be erased from Nigerian politics.
As Jonathan celebrates his 59th birthday, Legit.ng compiles 14 quotes that Nigerians can .
1. “We want to lead a country where people will be less greedy. Where people will know that the commonwealth of Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, where people's wealth depends on the people around you. If you become a rich person and everyone around you is poor you are very poor.”
2. “We want to refocus Nigeria to make sure that basic infrastructure is provided. The environment is created for private investment, both within and direct foreign investment. So jobs will be created. That is my dream for Nigeria."
3. "In presenting myself for service, I make no pretense that I have a magic wand that will solve all of Nigeria’s problems or that I am the most intelligent Nigerian."
4. "I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny."
5. "I believe in the politics of give and take."
6. "Our founding fathers… did not dream of a country where neighbours and friends would exchange bullets in place of handshakes."
7. "I prefer to see the silver lining in the dark cloud rather than the dark cloud in the silver lining."
8. "Peace and security are the barest irreducible conditions for social and economic development."
9. "I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad. All my children live and school in Nigeria."
10. "The time of lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action."
11. "I have no intention to inflict pain on Nigerians. To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices."
12. "In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school, but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day, but I never despaired. Didn’t have power, didn’t have generators, studied with lanterns, but I never despaired. In spite of these, I finished secondary school attended the University of Port Harcourt and now hold a doctorate degree."
13. "The dark patches in the Niger Delta will give way to light."
14. "The beauty of democracy is that its practice is never final and always has room for improvement no matter how old a democratic society may be. Where we falter we must not fall. When we are weak, we must not surrender."
Nigerians will not be forgetting Jonathan in a hurry. Or don't you think so?
Source: Legit.ng
