Nigerians will praise me when I leave, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has boasted that his administration will be praised by Nigerians when he leaves office because of the numerous achievements carried across all sectors.

He stated this when he had audience with ‎a delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from Bayelsa State led by the Governor, Seriake Dickson at his residence, adding that the constant criticism did not come as a surprise to him.

‎Jonathan while noting that he was aware that his poor performance will bring disgrace to the people of Bayelsa his immediate constituency, promised to double his efforts to deliver the dividend of democracy to Nigerians who voted him into office.

The President while noting that the nation’s polity will begin to heat up from January 2nd because of the elections, promised to do this best in carrying out his official functions.

‎He said, “The new year is full of challenges for Nigerians because of the early elections. Everywhere will be hot from January 2nd. “I assure you that I am here by the grace of God with the willingness of Nigerians. If Nigerians say I shouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have been here. We contested election in 2011 and Nigerians voted for us.

“I am your own, if I don’t do well, the shame will be on you. If I do well, you will have some kind of pride. I will do my best”.

Jonathan regretted that the social media initially meant for good as become a tool to disseminate evil.

“These days, there are all kinds of stories. It is all over the world, leaders are being lambasted, especially with the social media now.

“People use what knowledge had created for negative reasons. Just as I was told that the person who invented dynamite regretted that invention because he thought he was coming up with something to solve human problem, but when he got to know about the level of destruction: human lives that are being blown up because of explosion, the man regretted that invention.

“What is supposed to be used for the common good was turned to negative purposes.

“I always say that I will not even expect praises now because hardly do people praise serving leaders. It is when you leave, people will begin to know.

“When you leave, people will begin to compare what you have done over the period vis-a-vis what others have done, then they will compare you with whoever takes over.

“Probably that is the time some people will begin to say good about you. But I will do my best to make sure that we do change things.

“We are trying to create enabling environment for our economy to thrive irrespective of the challenges we are having in the petroleum sector and the security challenges we have.

“I will do my best so that by the time I will leave, you will be able to say that when our son was there, he served the country well so that one day, another son of Bayelsa may be given another opportunity to serve Nigerians‎”, he said.

Speaking earlier, Governor Seriake Dickson, said they were in the State House to felicitate with President Jonathan and his family in the spirit of the festive season, while wishing him a victorious new year.

He assured that Bayelsa people will continue to support the President, commending him for his transformation agenda which was impacting positively on Nigerians.

He said the President’s home state was peaceful and was in safe hands.

The high point of the event was the presentation of a giant seasonal greeting card to the President on behalf of the state.

Notable personalities in the encouraged were the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, Alfred Diete-Spiff‎, Bayelsa State Chief Judge, the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, former Managing Director of NDCC, Timi Alaiyibe, traditional rulers, clerics among others.