GEJ: Without Alamieyeseigha, I wouldn’t have been president

Former Nigeria president, Goodluck Jonathan, says he will remain grateful to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the impeached former governor of Bayelsa state, as he would never have been president without the ex-governor.

He also appealed to the people of the state to continue praying for him in order “to be strong enough” to contribute to the development of the country.

He said despite leaving office, he still owes Nigeria a lot of service.

He was speaking at St. Peters Anglican Church, Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa, at the thanksgiving service, which marked the end of the civic reception that the state government organised in his honour.

“I still have a part to play in the development of our society, even as a former president,” he said.

“With your prayers and your support, I’ll be strong enough to work with all of you in the development of our nation.

“I would continue to request that your prayers should not stop now.”

He said he never believed he could become a commissioner not to talk of the nation’s number one citizen, and expressed gratitude to Alamieyeseigha, who attended the programme.

Jonathan served as deputy to Alamieyeseigha in 1999 and they won a second term in office but Jonathan succeeded his boss in 2005 after his impeachment.

“At a time when I was not even thinking of being a commissioner in the state, he [Alamieyeseigha] came to me and said I should run with him. That’s why I’m here today. Without him, it won’t have been possible,” he said.

Jonathan also appreciated his aides and associates who attended the programme, saying:  “I am grateful to my aides and all those that worked with me to ensure our success. The business community, some of whom are here with us, on behalf of myself and wife, we thank you, we owe you so much.”

Speaking earlier, Seriake Dickson, governor of the state, described the former president as a ‘hero of democracy’ and also justified the need for the thanksgiving service.

Uma Ukpai, guest speaker at the event, said Jonathan remained consistent despite the various obstacles that confronted him.

He described him as a considerate leader, observing that obstacles in life were meant to make people resilient.

“If in life, you have no problem, it means that God has forgotten you and the devil has rejected you,” he said.

“We are measured in life by the enormity of the problems we solve.”