Nigeria has no great politician – Jonathan •Says G5 govs’ defection won’t affect PDP.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, looked at the qualities of politicians in the country, including himself, and concluded that not a single one could be regarded as great.

He was speaking during a memorial service organised at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja, in honour of the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, who died last week Thursday at the age of 95.

The president observed that it would be easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for Nigerian politicians to be truly great in the mould of the late African statesman.

According to Jonathan, “if you listen to those of us politicians in Nigeria from all political parties, I am here, Senate President is here, the Deputy Speaker is here, incidentally, we are all from PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), but if you listen to those of us who are politicians, from all the political parties, the way we talk, some of us see as if Nigeria is personal bedroom they have control over.

“If you read the papers, listen to the radio and television, some of us even see ourselves as if we are tin gods. We intimidate, we threaten, we show hate in our communication. These are not the virtues of great men. They are certainly the vices of tiny men.

“Sometimes when I listen to politicians, the ones older than me, my contemporaries, and even the younger ones, I come to the painful conclusion that it is probably easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a politician to be truly great.

“I always look at the word great with some kind of spectrum, because making a great name is not just enough. You could see it, especially in the political circle. We have so many great names that are dictators, with repressive and oppressive governments that sent a lot of people to detention. Some people become extremely notorious, but they have made great names and so to be truly great is key.”

The president, who said he never met Mandela before his death, described him as a great man who everyone needed to emulate in order to build a better society.

He observed that the late former South African president was a very humble and rare leader, who had a forgiving spirit and selflessly served his country.

“Nelson Mandela was a rare character that those of us who are politicians need to learn from, so that we will imbibe some of these traits and do better for our country,” he said.

He said Mandela did well as a politician, as he showed that one could be a  politician and still be truly great by putting the interest of his nation and the people first before his own interest.

Jonathan explained that the reason Nigeria was celebrating Mandela was because of the strong relationship that existed between both countries and the key role Nigeria played during the anti-apartheid struggle.

Noting that Mandela remained the symbol of the struggle, Jonathan added “we saw the pain of South Africans as our pain. We saw their struggle as our own struggle and when apartheid collapsed, we saw their victory as our own victory.

“That is why when the Madiba, the symbol of the apartheid struggle, passed on, we believe South Africans are feeling the pains and sorrow but, at the same time, they are celebrating Nelson Mandela and we believe Nigeria must join them and support them.”

The church service, which witnessed tributes paid to the late Mandela, was attended by Senate President, David Mark; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Reverend Matthew Kukah; Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, among others.

The First Lady, Patience, took the first bible lesson, while the second lesson was read by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, stressed the need to remember those who fought with Mandela.

He urged African leaders to continue to fight social and institutional injustices across the continent, as a way of paying tribute to Mandela.

The South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Chris Mamazulu, narrated the history of Mandela during and after the anti-apartheid liberation struggle in South Africa.

He thanked the people and government of Nigeria for their support to his country during the apartheid era.

Meanwhile, Jonathan will leave Abuja today to join other world leaders in South Africa at events leading up to the burial of former President Mandela.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja, on Sunday, stated that the president would be accompanied by the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, to attend the memorial service for Mandela tomorrow at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

It said Jonathan will, in company with other heads of state and government, also pay last respects to Mandela at the lying-in-state on Wednesday at the Union Building, Pretoria, where he served as South Africa’s first democratically-elected president.

At the conclusion of the event in Pretoria on Wednesday, Jonathan will leave for Nairobi to attend Kenya’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations before returning to the country on Thursday.

‘G5 govs’ defection won’t affect PDP’
President Jonathan, in Paris, France, on Saturday, said the crisis rocking the PDP notwithstanding, it remains the party to beat in the country in 2015.

Jonathan, in an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and France 24 Radio, was reacting to the recent defection of five governors of the PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president granted the interview shortly before departing Paris for Abuja, at the close of a two-day summit on peace and security in Africa, hosted by President Francois Hollande of France.

He said while the party would continue to pursue the path of reconciliation, the move by the governors would not hamper the success of PDP in future elections.

“We want those governors to come back to PDP, but in an event where some of them feel it is better outside, they can also go and try.

“We will work harder to make sure that we get more supporters so that at the end of the day, equilibrium will be maintained.

“But I still believe that in Nigeria today, PDP is still the party to beat. As they are leaving the ruling party to the opposition, there are other key political actors who are ready to come to PDP. At the appropriate time, we will also receive them,” he said.

The president said “the game of politics is dynamic and a governor elected by the people must not see himself as a king, who can lord himself over the electorate.”

The president clarified that not all the seven aggrieved governors had moved to the opposition party, adding that so far, two of them had openly declared that they were not leaving the party.

“Out of the remaining five, two appears that they have actually moved to the other political parties, while some are still on the fence.

“I believe in a couple of weeks, it will not be too long. it will be very clear whether they are leaving or not,” he said.

60 leaders for Mandela’s burial !

President Goodluck Jonathan and his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, are among 59 world leaders expected in South Africa this week to attend the funeral rites of  Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday.

Mandela, who died at his home in Johannesburg after months of battling lung infection, is to be buried on December 15 at his ancestral home in Qunu, Eastern Cape, after a state funeral.

South Africa’s  Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the 59 foreign heads of state or government had so far said they would attend either the memorial ceremony or the state funeral of   Mandela in South Africa during the week.

He said the final number of who would attend either tomorrow’s memorial in Johannesburg or the funeral in Qunu on Sunday would be confirmed during the week.

Jonathan, who is billed to leave Nigeria today, will attend the memorial for Mandela in Johannesburg along with Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as well as three other former US presidents –  George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Many other heads of state will be there, including Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff.
Ahead of tomorrow’s memorial, South Africans converged on churches and other public places yesterday to pray for their iconic leader.

The government has also given further details of the state funeral arrangements: tomorrow is the day for South Africa’s official memorial service at the FNB Stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg, which will attract world leaders as well as ordinary South Africans.  It will be addressed by Zuma with tributes from other heads of state.

The memorial service will be shown on big screens at three “overflow” stadiums – Orlando in Soweto, Dobsonville north of Soweto and Rand in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville from December 11-13, “selected international visitors and guests” will be able to view  Mandela’s remains at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The public will be able to view the body from noon to 5:30pm on Wednesday and from  8am to 5:30pm on Thursday and Friday.

His body will be transported on Saturday from Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria to the Eastern Cape, with a procession from the airport at Mthatha to his home village of Qunu, where a traditional ceremony will be held.

A funeral service will take place at Qunu – where Mandela grew up and later retired to – on Sunday. A national day of reconciliation will take place on   December 16 when a statue of Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Building in Pretoria. Some 90 screens will be set up across the country to show all planned national events.

Flags at all official buildings are to remain at half-mast throughout the period and books of condolence will be circulated across the country and online for people to post tributes, record memories and express their emotions.

International figures will also attend the funeral in Qunu. The Prince of Wales will represent Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace said. A government statement recalled the former president’s own thoughts when asked how he wished to be remembered.
“It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered,” Mandela said.
I would just like a simple stone on which is written, ‘Mandela’.”
In their first public statement, on Saturday, Mandela’s family likened him to a baobab tree that had provided shade and protection.

The former South African leader spent 27 years in jail before becoming the country’s first black president in 1994. He served a single term before stepping down in 1999. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with FW de Klerk, South Africa’s last white president.

At the memorial service yesterday,  the congregation recalled Mandela’s service to South Africa and the world and prayed for the repose of his soul.

At the Bryanston Methodist Church in Johannesburg, President Jacob Zuma urged South Africans not to forget the values Mandela stood for.
At the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto, Priest Sebastian Roussouw said the late president had been “a light in the darkness”.

A national memorial service is due to be held tomorrow while Mandela’s body will lie in state in Pretoria on the following three days preparatory to a state funeral on December 15.
South Africans have been holding vigils since Mandela died after several months of ill health. Addressing the congregation in Johannesburg – including members of the Mandela family – Zuma praised Mandela for his commitment to peace and reconciliation.
“He stood for freedom, he fought against those who oppressed others. He wanted everyone to be free,” he said.

In yesterday’s service at the Regina Mundi Church – which acted as a vital meeting place during the apartheid era – Priest Roussouw praised Mandela for his “humility and forgiveness”.

“Madiba did not doubt the light. He paved the way for a better future, but he cannot do it alone,” he said, referring to Mandela by his clan name. In Cape Town, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said Mandela was a powerful and continuing reminder that individuals do have the power to make change happen in the world.

At the memorial service for Mandela in Nigeria, Jonathan described those who threaten, boast and play little gods by virtue of their position as tiny men.
According to him, this undermined the good character of leadership that Mandela exhibited and lived for.

Jonathan, at the memorial service held at the Aso Rock Chapel in Abuja, said  Mandela was a man of humility, forgiving spirit and the ability to unite and reunite people.
He said his attributes were in contrast with the utterances of some Nigerian politicians who speak “as if Nigeria is their bedroom” from where proclamation is made, as well as intimidating others.

He lamented the utterances of some local politicians, which he said were laden with hatred.

According to him, when he listens to some “politicians older than me, I come to the conclusion that it is truly difficult for a camel to pass through the eyes of a needle than for a politician to achieve greatness.”

“Great names as we hear today in Nigeria are not enough” as the same names played repressive roles and ruled repressively during their days as rulers in this country.”

He praised Mandela’s selfless virtues, saying those who fought him and called him terrorists were now praising him to high heaven.

” For anybody that will make changes, don’t expect praises, they will call you names but the end matters much,” the president said.

Jonathan will leave Abuja today   to join other world leaders in South Africa at events leading up to the burial of Mandela.

The president who will be accompanied by the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, will attend the memorial service for   Mandela tomorrow at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.