Tribute to a hero

THE titans clashed. The battle was lost and won. The winner celebrated. The loser conceded victory. The latter did not just stop there. He even went further to celebrate the winner (Quite unusual, wouldn’t you say?).

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, you fought fiercly, you lost gallantly. When you lost, you did not sulk, you did not bemoan your fate, you did not rave and rant. You maintained your cool. What a sportsman’s spirit you have!

Ever-smiling president. Very rare to find on the globe. Even when criticised(destructively), you smile. Even when you are pelted with stones, you still smile. Even when those who are young enough to be your children rain insults on you in the name of freedom of speech, you smile through it all.

People interprete your humility for stupudity, and your meekness for weakness. How wrong they are ! For you to be able to take all these smiling, you are a very strong person indeed, one to be respected.

Yes, you lost the fight; but one thing is certain : you did not lose your mind. That you were defeated does not mean your life has come to an end. You faced the challenges before you without flinching. You released the baton willingly without anyone wrenching it out of your hand. You refused to put up a fight even when you had the power to do so. You decided to let go and let God. What a show of maturity ! You sacrificed your ambition on the altar of peace. Kudos! I wish those who are aggrieved would emulate you.

Mr President, know for sure that God ochestrated your failure in your re-election bid for a purpose,and that is, that peace may reign in Nigeria. God knew before hand that you are the only one who has the strength and capacity to absorb the blow from defeat. Such a blow landing on any other person could have spelt disaster. Ouch!

They say your government is the most corrupt. They say you are the most irresponsible leader ever. Agreed (assuming it is true). You are not perfect , no. But the questions are: who is perfect? Who is not corrupt? Who is that very responsible person? Can the saints please stand for recognition? Do they not also use money and material things to woo voters? Do they not give jobs and contracts to people on man-know-man basis instead of on merit? Would that not be called corruption? Do they not play dirty with words ( (mudslinging). I wonder what name they would give to that. Responsibility? Show me a saint in politics and I will show you a sham.

For all the good things you have done in your administration, people hardly remember. They brush them under the carpet. All they remember are your mistakes. That is human nature for you ! It is to be expected.

They vowed to frustrate you out of office. They pulled all manners of stunts. You build, they pulled down. Some wined and dined with you, only to later turn around and stab you in the back. Traitors! But the beauty of it all is inspite of their antics, you remain undaunted, you still stand tall and strong. Thats bravery !

William Shakespeare had this to say : “All the world’s a stage, all men and women merely players : they have their exits and their entrances…” You have finished acting your part. You are leaving the stage for another actor. Probably an actor-cum-magician ! The one that would perform the feat that no one has ever performed or would ever perform; the one who would satisfy all and sundry, such that not even one person would complain again. I pray earnestly for, and look forward excitedly, to that utopian world. May God help Nigeria !

Those who are today crying “Cucify him ! Crucify him !” against you, may well turn out to be the very ones to say “Hosanna ! Hosanna!” to you tomorrow. When it happens, do not be surprised.

Mr. President sir, you have a good heart. If every one of us were to have your kind of heart, then the world would have been a better place to live in.

Thank you so much for that sacrifice you made for the peace of our dear nation. I doff my hat for you. May the Lord God bless you real good.

Long live President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan !

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria !

Ms. Stella Samuel, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.