Former president Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday that despite having no interest in holding the office of vice president of Nigeria in 2007, fate had other plans for him.
He said he almost cried when he was chosen as Nigeria’s second-ranking citizen and added that he had no idea he would hold such a significant position at the time.
In a condolence visit on Wednesday to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri following the passing of the governor’s father at Sampou Community in the state’s Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Jonathan made the revelation.
“I can only advise that politics is not about you having to be there as a leader in the nation who had the honor of serving at both the state and national levels. You will be there if God wants you to.
“You won’t be there if it isn’t yet your turn to be there. I nearly cried when I was promoted to vice president because I never wanted to, but I had to accept my fate.
Therefore, I advise those who are interested in these positions and their supporters to behave very well. Instead of wanting to serve themselves, they want to serve us.
“I advise people to start their own businesses if they are ambitious enough. If people don’t want you in the state assembly despite your desire to serve, go to bed. People don’t want you to go to sleep or conduct business despite the fact that you want to be governor.
But if you intend to treat us as fellow citizens, you must show humility and promise not to kill us first. Therefore, people must act peacefully, and if God wants them to win their elections, they will, said Jonathan.
While Jonathan was serving as the governor of Bayelsa State in 2007, the former president was chosen as the running mate for the late President Musa Yar’Adua.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s slate of candidates, who were victorious, won the election. Before Yar’Adua’s passing, Jonathan worked as a vice president for three years.
He finished their term in office by taking over as president of Nigeria. He ran for office in 2011 and won, earning a second four-year term.
Jonathan’s 2015 reelection campaign, however, was unsuccessful as President of the All Progressives Congress, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.
