2015 elections: I hope my wife will not divorce me – Jonathan

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President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday
expressed the fears that his wife might divorce him
because of his decision to allow the process of the
just concluded election go on to its logical
conclusion without interference.

Speaking at a thanks giving and farewell service in
his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent
Life-Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, President Jonathan
cited the case of the former South African Apartheid
leader, FW De Clerk whose wish divorced him for
taking the decision to end the minority rule in the
Republic of South Africa.

President Jonathan who expressed appreciation to
Nigeria and Nigerians for giving him the opportunity
to serve at various capacities reiterated his
willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice in the
interest of the Nation.

He said: “I believe there are reasons for everything.
Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt
about that. That I have ran the government this way
that stabilized certain things, the electoral process
and other things that brought stability into this
country. They were very costly decisions which I
myself must be ready to pay for.

“Some people come to me and say this or that
person is he not your friend that benefited? Is it not
your government that this person benefited from?
But this is what the person is saying. But I used to
say worse statements will come. If you take certain
decisions, you should know that those close to you
will even abandon you at some point. And I tell them
that more of my so-called friends will disappear.
When FW De Clerk took the decision to abolish
minority rule in RSA, even his wife divorced him. I
hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the
only decision that has made RSA to still remain a
global player by this time. If we still had that
minority rule there, by this time, nobody will be
talking about RSA.

“If you take certain decisions, it might be good for
the generality of the people but it might affect
people differently. So for ministers and aides who
served with me, I sympathize with them, they will
be persecuted. And they must be ready for that
persecution” he said.

While expressing appreciation to God for what he
has done for his and his family, president Jonathan
said he had all the reason to thank God.

“Very few of those in my age brackets have been
that lucky. All through my education were on
government scholarships.

I have not suffered lack not because I’m hard-
working but by God’s grace.

“When I look at the whole picture of my life up to
when I became the president of this country. And I
say that if soldiers and police officers that have not
received 0. 5 per cent of the benefits that I have
received from the state can lay their lives for this
country, I should do anything in the interest of
Nigeria including paying the supreme price.

“As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the
state because the state has helped me as a person.

“I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for
giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy
governor and the whole country gave me the
opportunity to serve as Vice President and then
president, first was to complete the tenure of the
late president and later serve as president from
which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled
man”.

Speaking on his decision to concede defeat which
he said did not go down well with some of his
ministers and associates, President Jonathan noted
that the most important thing is that “the ordinary
people appreciate what we did.”