I can’t be a part of Nigeria’s division – Jonathan

It was gathered that Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said he would never
be a part of any action that can lead to Nigeria's disintegration.
He said the predictions that the country would cease to exist in 2015
could have come true if he had not taken the decision to concede
defeat in the March 28 Presidential election.
Looking back, he said he was happy he took that decision because
Nigerians still have a country to call their own.
Jonathan spoke while receiving members of the Universal Peace
Foundation who were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to confer on him
an award of Peace-Loving Global Citizen.
He said it was his commitment to the unity of the country that made
his administration to put together the National Conference in order to
address the issues that tend to divide Nigerians.
The President said, "Everybody knew about the predictions (that
Nigeria will cease to exist by 2015). Anything could have made those
predictions become true. After all, we fought a civil war for about
three years before as a nation.
"We have our challenges, the idea of that National Conference is to
look at these weak cleavages we have in this country.
"We just finished that conference and were thinking of how to
implement its recommendations so that Nigeria will become a stronger
and more united nation.
"I cannot be a party to the disintegration of the country. I am quite
pleased with what has happened. We have a country, the country will be
more united.
"We only pray that the incoming government should appreciate the
contributions of everybody and see how we can run Nigeria as a country
that belongs to everybody: all citizens, irrespective of political
affiliations or creeds."
Jonathan said Vice President Namadi Sambo who ran on the same ticket
with him and the Peoples Democratic Party that provided the platform
for them should also share in the encomium being showered on him.
While saying if he had won the election, Sambo too would have remained
in office, the President said by that singular act, the two of them
would be packing out of their offices on Friday.
He said he took the decision to concede defeat because he had always
been telling those around him that there must be a nation before
individuals can talk of ambitions.
He added that it has also been his position that even if he would be
the President for 25 years, he would not be happy if Nigerians are
killed because of him.
He said it was one thing to hold office, and it was another thing to
be happy and be satisfied with one's conscience.
"Yes, there are different human beings. If you look at the behaviours
of people, even among siblings, some of them could turn to be imams
and pastors, while some will be armed robbers.
"Even somebody that has that kind of criminal intention or he is very
vindictive or who by nature does not care if people are dying, even if
half of his countrymen and women die for him to be a President, he
will celebrate it.
"But for me, God did not create me that way and I cannot fit in. I
believe that for us to hold any office that we want to, we must have a
nation," he added.
Jonathan added that the years he had spent in office had given him an
experience that no school could give.
He reinstated his position that once he leaves office, he would
dedicate the remaining part of his life to issues that will bring
unity and peace to the country.
He urged Nigerians to commit themselves to the strengthening of those
things that can unite the country rather than things that can further
divide it.
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