Jonathan: I’d serve Nigeria in a different capacity

President Goodluck Jonathan says he intends to serve Nigeria in a different capacity when he vacates office, following his loss at the March 28 presidential election.

While speaking at the fifth presidential prayer breakfast at the state house banquet hall in Abuja on Saturday, the president appreciated other Nigerian leaders who had served the country in different capacities.

“I have to thank Nigerians for their support for me within this period – I will continue to do my best as I am gradually joining (Yakubu) Gowon and (Ernest) Shonekan to serve our country in different capacity,” he said.

“I must commend Gowon, Shonekan ‎and some of our other leaders. For the eight years I have been vice president and president, whenever we called upon them, wherever they are in this world, they will try to come.

“I have seen that they are extremely patriotic and they believe in this country.”

The president emphasized the need for sacrifice in building a great nation, urging Nigerians to make sacrifices for the nation to grow.

“Everything about human life as an individual, a child – if you don’t make the required sacrifice you can’t go to where you want to go.

“If you don’t sacrifice your pleasure, of course you will know where you’ll end. As parents, we know the kind of sacrifice we make for our children to go to school, to feed, to build a family you need to make sacrifices.

“So for those who have the privilege of leading at local, state and national levels, at all times we should be ready to make sacrifice for our nation to grow.”

Present at the presidential prayer were Yakubu Gowon, former head of state; Ernest Shonekan, former interim president; Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s first lady was conspicuously absent at the prayer, making no public appearance since her husband lost the election few weeks ago.

Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Jonathan in the presidential election, which Jonathan conceded before final declarations of results.