Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has advised politicians who lost in the recent presidential and National Assembly polls and those who may not succeed in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections to explore business or other areas of interest. Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President before succeeding late President Musa Yar’Adua, made the remarks during a condolence visit to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State over the death of his father at Sampou Community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.
In his address, Jonathan emphasized that politics is not all about winning an election, and that if it is not yet someone’s turn to serve, they will not be there. “If you are so ambitious, then go into business. If you want to be in the state assembly and people don’t want you, fine, go and sleep. You want to be a governor and people don’t want you, go and sleep or do business,” he said.
He urged aspiring politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during the elections, adding that they want to serve the people and not to serve themselves. Jonathan narrated how he almost cried when he was voted in as Vice President in the 2007 presidential election because he never wanted to become one, but it was his destiny and he had to move on.
Jonathan advised politicians to remain humble and to serve their constituents well if they win their elections. He emphasized that conducting oneself peacefully is important, and if it is God’s will for them to win the election, they will win. Jonathan served as President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and lost his reelection bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
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