I ’m ready to step into Gowon , Shonekan’ s shoes – Jonathan

With just few weeks to his exit from power,
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said he is now ready to play the patriotic role expected of him in Nigeria and
at  international level.
The President said he will do his best for
the country by joining the likes of former
Head of State , Gen . Yakubu Gowon and
former Head of Interim National
Government ( ING ) , Ernest Shonekan , in
their patriotic service to the nation after
their lives in office as heads of
government.
Jonathan spoke during the 5th Presidential
Prayer Breakfast in the Banquet Hall of the
State House, Abuja .
The President also harped on the need for
sacrifices at various levels of governance
in order to turn around the fortune of
Nigeria .
He said : “I have to thank Nigerians for the
support for me within this period , I will
continue to do my best as I’ m gradually
joining Gowon and Shonekan to serve our
country in different capacity.”
“And I must commend Gowon ,
Shonekan and some of our other leaders,
for the eight years I have been as vice
president and president , whenever we
called upon them , wherever they are in this
world, they will try to come. I have seen
that they are extremely patriotic and they
believe in this country. ”
He noted that if all Nigerian leaders could
show that level of commitment and
patriotism, Nigeria will get to the promised
land.
Stressing that leadership is not all about
giving directives , Jonathan said that a
successful leader must be ready to make
sacrifice .
He said : “Everything about human life as
an individual , a child , if you don ’ t make the
required sacrifice you can’ t go to where
you want to go.
“If you don ’ t sacrifice your pleasure of
course you will know where you’ ll end. As
parents we know the kind of sacrifice we
make for our children to go to school , to
feed .
“To build a family you need sacrifice . So
for those who have the privileges of
leading at local , state and national levels ,
at all times we should be ready to make
sacrifice for our nation to grow. ”