Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has admonished politicians against a do-or-die politics ahead of the governorship and House of Assembly elections this Saturday.
The former Nigerian President gave the admonition yesterday at Sampou community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, shortly after paying a condolence visit to Governor Douye Diri over the demise of his father, Pa Abraham Diri.\
Jonathan stressed that politics should be about service and not about self, urging politicians to wait for God’s time to get into leadership positions, adding also that in a democracy, the people play a critical role and wondered why those who aspired to lead wanted to force themselves on the people.
He advised people of the state to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during the House of Assembly elections.
On the late Pa Diri, Jonathan said the death of a parent was painful but urged the family of the departed to take solace in the worthy legacies he left.
The former president noted that the fact that the deceased produced a governor meant he inculcated good virtues in his children and prayed God to give the Diri family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Leadership is not by force. It is about serving the people. So, if you want to lead the people, you cannot kill them before you lead them. In Bayelsa, the challenges will be minimal because we do not have governorship election on Saturday. But I urge our people to conduct themselves well.
“When you go for condolence visit, sometimes you lack words. We are lucky that our father lived for 88 years but that is not the most important. What you will be remembered for is what matters. From the messages so far, it is clear he lived a worthy life.
“He had good qualities that probably helped him produce a governor. We have come to join the governor and members of his family and community to console you and the rest of the family,” he said.
The Bayelsa governor, on his part, described the visit of the former president as special, saying his family and community were strengthened by his presence.
He traced his relationship with Jonathan to when he was Bayelsa deputy governor, saying he became very close to him until he became governor and appointed him Commissioner in his administration.
Diri said Jonathan’s rise to the position of president was divine, and that the people of the state were proud of him and his achievements in politics.
The governor said he was overwhelmed with joy by the former president’s show of love, whom he said was among the first to call him and even sent his wife to visit before coming in person.
Diri, however, stressed the need for the people of Bayelsa to exhibit same brotherly love and unity in order to move the state forward.
