Something is Wrong With Nigeria – Jonathan • Says: ‘I’m Not The Problem’

Posted by admin National Politics, Top Stories Saturday, May 19th, 2012

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has absolved himself of any complicity in causing the woes of the nation, saying its problems were as old as the country itself.

The president, who said emphatically that he should not be blamed for its socio-economic and political problems, noted that the crises predated his mounting the saddle of leadership two years ago.

Speaking on Friday during a funeral mass in honour of Mrs. Theresa Ekpeluchi Chime, mother of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, at the St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Church, Udi, Jonathan said that it was high time a change was made to correct the ills of successive regimes.

He said the problems of the country could only be solved by Nigerians, stressing that running away from the country like Andrew of the rested NIgerian Television Authority (NTA) fame would not be the best option, as every Nigerian must remain here and make a positve change to move the nation forward.

“Something must have gone wrong along the line from 1914 when the Southern and Northern Protectorates were amalgamated till date. When you look at the 1914 almagamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates, and between the period Nigeria got independence in 1960 and the time I was sworn-in as president, you will agree with me that I am not the problem of Nigeria. I have just stayed two years and the problems have been there before me. What we must do is to make a change for the development of Nigeria. We cannot check out like that of the television man…..”, he added.

The president averred that Nigerians needed to reassess their journey, especially from independence till date, to know the areas we have gone wrong and done well, advising the people against playing politics with the development of the country.

While commiserating with Chime and members of his family, he noted that the deceased contributed enormously to the successes recorded by his children.

Jonathan recalled that when he was growing up, the mother warned him, “that if I smoke, I will die,” adding that it was the mother’s advice that kept him away from smoking.

Earlier in his speech, Chime had thanked the president for attending the ceremony and prayed God to continue to give him courage to carry out his reform agenda.

In his sermon at the occasion, the Principal, College of the Immaculate Conception(CIC) , Enugu, Rev. Fr. Dr Nnamdi Nwankwo, described the deceased as a devoted Christian, who was so fond of children.

He recalled that the late community leader brought out the money she saved for Udi women at the end of the war exactly as they were and refused to change them into Biafran currency, a development, he said, earned her the nickname, Bank of Udi Women.

Jonathan read the first lesson from the book of Wisdom 3:1:9, while Chime read the second lesson from the second letter of St Paul to Corr. 4:16 and 5:10.

Some of the political figures in attendance were: wife of President Jonathan, Dame Patience; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani; former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme; the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senator Ayogu Eze; governors from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states, as well as Bishop of Anglican Communion, Enugu Diocese, Reverend Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma.

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