GEJ: Nigerians will praise me when I leave office

President Goodluck Jonathan is sure that his assessment by Nigerians would improve once his stay at the presidential villa is over.

Jonathan made the claim in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from his home state of Bayelsa.

He promised to continue to devote his best towards the growth of the country despite the current challenges, saying it had become a norm for people occupying top positions in the society to be praised when they have left office.

“When you leave, people will begin to compare what you have done over the period with what others have done,” he said.

“That is probably the time some people will begin to say good things about you.

“I do not expect praises now because hardly do people praise serving leaders, but I will do my best to create an enabling environment for our economy to thrive irrespective of the challenges we are having in the petroleum sector and the security challenges we have.”

Jonathan said he would strive to make his people proud “so that another son of Bayelsa may be given another opportunity to serve Nigerians”.

“I will do my best so that by the time I leave, you will be able to say that when our son was there, he served the country so well.”

Jonathan added that apart from the people of the country, no one could decide if he would stay in office beyond 2015.

Alfred Diete Spiff, a notable traditional ruler from Bayelsa, who was among the delegation, said the president had performed very well and deservedly received the support of his people to continue in office.

“We are behind him,” he said. “He has done very well.”

Seriake Dickson, the governor of Bayelsa, said they were at the presidential villa to celebrate the festive period with the president.