governance, saying he has been in a cage since 1999.
Dr. Jonathan spoke when the Christian community in the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) paid him Easter homage at the new Banquet Hall of the
State House, Abuja.
He described himself as one of the luckiest Nigerians, having occupied
public offices from the deputy governor of Bayelsa State to governor,
vice-president and president.
He said: "I thank you for coming to encourage us. This Easter period
coincides with when I'm leaving but I always say I'm one of the
luckiest Nigerians. From 1999 I have been in the hands of government.
I am yet to see somebody luckier than me. I was in the hands of
governments for 16 years, not in government as a parliamentarian,
because if you are in the National Assembly or House of Assembly, you
take care of yourself in your house. I was in a cage being taken care
of by the government. But I think it is enough and I am happy. Help me
to thank God for that.
"I will continue to thank Nigerians for giving me that privilege. I
became deputy governor because Baylesans voted for me and governor
then. I became VP because Nigerians voted for me and Yar'Adua. And
Nigerians voted for me and Sambo. We have to thank all Nigerians.
Wherever I will be, I have to thank all Nigerians. Today is a glorious
day for me."
Dr. Jonathan noted that the key lesson of the Easter celebration is sacrifice.
He said: "Thank you for this Easter homage. It is a period to reflect
on the essence of our belief. Because we believe without the
resurrection there wouldn't have been Christianity.
"Whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson there is
sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. So, as a people,
as a government, what I always believe we should ask: 'What sacrifice
are you making?'
"Now it is not about supporting Jonathan or government. Now Buhari is
coming on board; it is not about supporting Buhari or government, but
what sacrifice as individual are you willing to make for government
and for the nation?
"If you are a businessman and you say you are supporting government
but you don't pay tax, how do you expect that government to survive?
That government will not survive."
Continuing, he said: "While in Bayelsa State as a deputy governor,
people used to come to me to say 'I'm loyal'. Don't tell me you are
loyal, tell me I'm patriotic to the country and that you believe in
Bayelsa State.
"To me, whenever I travel to different countries and see things work,
those things didn't fall down as manna. People made sacrifice.
Therefore, in Nigeria people must also be ready to make the required
sacrifice.
"Whoever becomes president is immaterial so long as the citizens are
happy. Our children go to school, when we are sick they go to good
hospital and of course the economy blossom.
"But for that to take place, people must make the required sacrifice.
In ECOWAS sub-region, for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT 5 per
cent (Value Added Tax) payment, other countries pay up to 12 per cent.
"If for instance Buhari decides to increase VAT from 5 to 10 per cent,
will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice and we must make
sacrifice.
"Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individuals and the
patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements. We must be
ready to sacrifice for our nation. We are talking about Boko Haram or
terror, soldiers are dying for us to live, police are dying for us to
live; that is sacrifice. As individuals, you don't need to die but
there are various roles you need to play. You must make sacrifice.
"The economy of China was threatened but they locked themselves up for
a period of time but by the time they opened their doors, they become
even a threat to the biggest economy. Are we ready for that kind of
sacrifice for the government? Whenever we talk of Easter, these are
the key lessons of sacrifice."
Vice-President Namadi Sambo thanked Jonathan for making Nigeria the
pride of Africa and the world.
According to him, Jonathan's name will be written in gold.
--TheNation
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