defence of President Goodluck
Jonathan for not speaking at the
memorial service in honour of
the former South African leader,
Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
The President had come under
serious condemnation by critics in
the social media, who wondered
why he went to Johannesburg in the
first place without rendering an
oration in honour of Madiba as
other world leaders did.
But Presidential Spokesman, Dr
Reuben Abating, dismissed the
attacks on the President as a classic
case of much ado about nothing, as
Jonathan was not billed to speak at
the ceremony in the first place.
According to Abati, only six out of
the 100 world leaders at the event,
were slated to speak and Jonathan
was not one of those chosen to
render any speech.
“The late Madiba’s burial is not a
United Nations Debating session. It
is what it is a burial: a solemn,
national ceremony,” Abati said.
” Leaders from all over the world
attended the Memorial Service to
pay their last respects and to
identify with South Africans in their
hour of grief. It was certainly not
meant to be an occasion for political
grandstanding or the waving of
flags.
“Out of about 100 world leaders
who attended the event today, only
six spoke at the ceremony. It was
made clear at the occasion that the
Chairman of the AU Commission, Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will speak
on behalf of African leaders. And
she did.
“I do not agree that Nigeria was
insulted in any way. It was good
that President Jonathan attended
the Memorial service and that
Nigeria is in solidarity with the
South Africans.
“If every leader who attended the
service had been asked to say a
word, the event would not have
ended. There were many other
leaders at the event, whose
countries have strong historical and
political ties with South Africa, but
who did not speak.
“I have not heard their compatriots
crying like babies. This is obviously a
further indication of a rising,
minority tendency to read the
negative into every official
item,”Abati said.
Source: Vanguard
