Beware of insincere advisers, Jonathan advises public office holders

by Laila Ibrahim

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said most of those who claim to be advisers and admirers of government are insincere.

The President was speaking at the burial of the nine prominent women political leaders, who died of auto crash on East-West road near Ahoada-Mbiama road in Rivers State on their way to Yenagoa after a meeting with First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan a day earlier.

Responding to comments by the host governor, Seriake Dickson that some people had questioned his rationale for his approving a state burial for the victims, instead of allowing them to be buried individually, the President cautioned the governor to watch out for those who claim to be his advisers and admirers.

Drawing from his own experience as a politician, Jonathan declared that 80 per cent of those who claim to his advisers had nothing to say or advice about.

According to him “I am surprised when the governor said some people asked why state burial would be organised for the victims and I told the governor that more than 80 per cent of people who come to advise him have nothing to say but just listen to them. From my experience as a deputy governor till today, more than 80 per cent (of advisers) have nothing to say, but you listen to everybody and do what  you think is right for our people.

“Because in every nation, when so many people die at a time, it is taken as a national calamity, not to talk about a state.”

Jonathan described the day of the accident as a black day which, according to him, has coloured the landscape of Bayelsa with the worst colour.

“We are here today because of the sad event of February 14. Of course, we lost eight of our best. To me, it is not just that people have died, not just that Bayelsans have died. But these are people I know too well. These nine caskets contain the remains of people who were dear to me. People that touched me in one way or the other.

“Whenever I remember February 14, supposed to be a valentine day, but a black day that coloured the landscape of Bayelsa state with the worst colour we could ever imagine. When my ADC gave me the information and my PA showed me the flaming bus on a handset, I asked myself could these people be in this flame? And I asked God why?

“When I saw that flame and imagined that these women were being burnt and roasted, I just couldn’t imagine. Till today, it gives me migraine. I lack words to console the direct family members. The world is a stage where we have all come to play our part and go. I believe they have played their own part. I plead we reason they died in this circumstance probably so that we learn to be a little more careful.

The president asked people to be conscious of what would be said about them when they die.

“In every nation, when so many people die at a time, it is taken as a national calamity, not to talk about a state. Members of the bereaved families, let me express my condolences to you. Your daughters and brothers have though passed on, but we remember them.

“And the most important thing is that at the day of your death, people will say positive things about you. Not the office you occupy. There are people that have occupied almost the biggest offices in the land, but people dance when they hear that they are gone”.

The First Lady, in her tribute, said the late female politicians were her faithful followers, lamenting that she had lost her strong pillars of support.

Apparently referring to the perceived political crisis in the state, the first lady called for peace.

She said: “Bayelsa State is a small state. I want everybody to live in peace. We should love one another. Let us put politics aside and live in peace and unity”.

In his own tribute, Dickson said February 14, 2015 would for ever remain dark in the minds of the people of Bayelsa State.

The governor pledged that the state government would stand by the bereaved families.

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