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 the 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.”