Nigeria will be a better place if those who want to hold public offices from Councilors to Governors or President can shun desperation in a bid to get to such positions, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday.
President Goodluck Jonathan was speaking at the lunch of a book ‘The People’s Choice’ – the story of President Goodluck Jonathan written by Reverend Father Imokhai.
President Jonathan said he had never been ruffled by the desire to hold public office even when he was ready to serve. He urged all Nigerian politicians to do same.
“For all of us who want to serve, we should be ready to serve, but we should not be desperate to serve our people.
“Some times people ask me; Mr President, from what we see and read, we see you still smiling and you look so unruffled.
“Yes! Nothing will really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not desperate to serve and that is what keeps me going.
“If all of us, who want to hold offices from the least, may be councillor of a ward in a local government council to the President, are always ready and willing to serve Nigerians and we are not desperate, then of course Nigeria will be a better place for all of us,” he stressed.
A Humble Beginning
President Jonathan said that his story, told in the book, was meant to inspire young Nigerians, especially those who were now in the Almajiri schools he built in northern Nigeria.
The President insisted that “if a Jonathan could be the President of Nigeria”, anyone of them could make it in the future.
He described his story as a humble beginning that could not have been possible without education.
“My story is the story that is meant to encourage young people.
“If I were from India, I may not have dreamt of becoming a councillor.
“Nigeria is an open society and you can move from the lowest level to the. But for you to do that, one key thing is education. And that is why I am pleased and I place so much emphasis in education.
“I am dreaming that one day, a product of the Almajiri schools will stand here as the President of this country,” the President said.
The book launch attracted the big wigs in the political scene including former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd).