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I feel ashamed Nigeria is now being used as negative examples —Jonathan

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Jonathan counsels Nigerians to remain steadfast ‘in times of persecution’

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed regret over how Nigeria is now being used for negative examples in the international community.

He said that he is ashamed as a former president that a president of a neighbouring country, referring to Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo- Addo, could be mocking Nigeria over poor security and weak currency.

The former president made this comment at the inauguration of the first bridge built by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday night.

“He (Ghanaian President) said Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. At another occasion in the United Kingdom, he made scathing remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

“I feel ashamed as a former President that the president of a neighbouring country used Nigeria as negative examples.

“If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.”

On the forthcoming July 14, governorship election in Ekiti State, Jonathan called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to give in to pressure and rig the poll and other coming elections in the country.

“I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before. When you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use your power to subjugate democracy.

“Don ’t do that because when you are going; the only thing you leave behind is your good name. If you use it wrongly, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy,” he said.

Jonathan, expressing satisfaction with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ekiti election, the 50 – year – old deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola, said, “I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held.”

For Jonathan, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose is an exemplary leader and loyal party man, who had done his party proud in all areas.

The former leader, contrary to the recent alleged claim by Buhari that Nigerian youths are lazy, described youths of the country as one of the best in the world.

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He added, “We must encourage young people to work hard. I don ’t think Nigerian youths are lazy, I have worked with some of them in my cabinet as governor and president. Nigerian youths are great people with intelligence.”

In his speech at the event, Fayose described the 77-member election committee raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ekiti governorship election as a prove of how desperate the party is to win at all costs.

He however said, “I will defeat them by the grace of God.”

 

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