I’m not bothered about criticisms – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said
that he is not bothered about negative
comments some people make about
him.
He said he is only concerned about how
he will be remembered by present and
future Nigerians after leaving office.
Jonathan, who likened holding political
offices to death, described the world as
a stage where everybody must play his
part.
He suggested that politicians should
make the thoughts of how they would
be remembers after leaving office their
guiding principle.
Speaking at the funeral of his mother-in-
law, Late Mrs. Charity Oba, in Okrika
Local Government Area of Rivers State,
the President extolled the virtues of her
wife’s foster mother, adding that the
deceased played her part well while on
earth.
“To me as a political leader and most of
my friends here who are politicians,
politics or holding political offices is
almost like death. While you are there,
you are on the stage. The day you
leave, what would people remember
you for? That has always been my
guiding principle.
“No matter the comments; whether the
comments are to the left or the
comments are to the right or at the
centre, what challenges me everyday is
what the present and future generations
of Nigerians will remember me for the
day I step out of the State House.
“I believe that is what will guide most of
us who are holding political offices. So,
for today, I have to thank you. Sisi has
done well and we are remembering her.
My family is the family that will surely
remember her.
“In fact when her biography was being
read, my children were crying. My
children appear to be the last set of
children that she brought up. That
should tell you how we feel about her.
As a mother-in-law, she was a
wonderful woman.
“If you have such a lady as a mother-in-
law, you will continue to thank God.
Though she stayed very shortly, but we
are happy and we will continue to
remember her and all the things she did
to support my wife and me. I enjoined
all of you to pray for her that the soul of
Mama Sisi rest in the bossom of the
Lord,” the President said.
He described the death of her mother-
in-law as painful, adding that her wife’s
mother left when the ovation was very
loud.
According to him, “It is painful, but also
reminds me about the word of
Shakespeare that we all come to earth
and the world is a stage where we will
all play our part. In one way or the
other, we will play our part.”