President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday evening made progress in their renewed efforts to end their protracted feud at a brief meeting in the family house of the first lady Dame Patience Jonathan in Okrika Island of Okrika local government area of Rivers State.
Before the peace parley, Jonathan, Amaechi and Bayelsa State governor Henry Seriake Dickson had flown into the town in the same helicopter from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. Dickson is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee.
The president was in Okrika to receive a chieftaincy title along with his wife as part of activities for the burial of the foster mother of the first lady, Madam Charity Fyneface Obah, yesterday.
Although the outcome of the brief meeting was not made public, a close aide to Amaechi, who pleaded anonymity, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the president and the governor discussed the need for them to forget their differences and work towards ensuring that the events of 2015 become beneficial to the people of the south-south geopolitical zone and other Nigerians.
He said: “The discussion started right from the Port Harcourt Airport when the trio boarded the chopper and continued at Okrika, but was brief. You know that it was a secret meeting and no person was allowed to join the three of them. But the discussion, as I later learnt, was on how to bring reconciliation to the PDP.
“We understand that both the president and Dickson persuaded Amaechi not to succumb to the pressure from the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dump the PDP and join the opposition.”
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has said the criticisms of his administration would not deter him from carrying out his duties in line with the mandate given to him by Nigerians. He described the holding of public offices and politics as the same as death.
Jonathan stated this at the funeral service of his mother-in-law at the National Field, Okrika, which was attended by Vice-president Namadi Sambo, Senate president David Mark and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
Also in attendance were PDP national chairman Dr Bamanga Tukur, Senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Amaechi, Dickson, governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).
Others were governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Ahamefule Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Gabriel Suswan (Benue).
Jonathan said: “There is a time to be born and there is a time to die. It simply reminds me about the words of Shakespeare: that we all come to the earth and the world is a stage where we play our parts. One way or the other, we play our part. Looking at the biography of our late mother, she did not want us to mourn her; that was why she left when the ovation was very loud.
“But in a moment like this, one thing that consoles me is the hymn we sang, which says, ‘Wading away like the morning, only to be remembered by what we have done’. So, for all of us who are here on earth to play our roles, and we know that surely we will come, I think the key thing is what we will be remembered for.
“Today, as political leaders, holding offices is almost like death: while you are there, you are on the stage. The day you leave, what will people remember you for? That is the only reason I am not deterred by criticisms. If you like, criticise from the front or from the left, or from the right, or even from the back; what is important is to be focused. Do that which you must do. Make sure you do what is right. And don’t despair because of criticisms.”
What challenges me every day is: the day I will leave that State House, what will the present and future generation of Nigerians remember me for? As a political leader, I urge Nigerians to do all they can to contribute to the growth and development of the country. I am not saying that you should not criticize your leaders, but try and do something meaningful on your own.
Jonathan added that he habours no ill-feelings towards criticisms, “but let me state here and now that I am more concerned about what I can do to move Nigeria forward. I will do what is just, right and necessary. I am more concerned about what posterity will say about me and my efforts in transforming Nigeria”.
In her funeral oration, Dame Jonathan, amidst tears, said: “You raised me from a tender age, until I was able to stand on the world’s stage. You taught me the right from wrong, and made me virtuous and strong. You put in my heart God’s own song. But now that you are gone, you are with your Creator who loves you more.
“Although the pain is still deep and raw, I will forever cherish all your memories and celebrate your life, for you were a mother in a million, who laboured in love to make me what I am today…Fare thee well, Mama Sisi, as the angels watch over you in heaven.”
