I’m not desperate to serve, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said although he was ready and willing to continue to serve as the President of the country, he was not desperate to continue in office.

He said, that was the reason he had remained unruffled despite the various things that had been said or written about him.

Jonathan spoke at the public launch of a book, “The People’s Choice: The story of President Goodluck Jonathan,” written by Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhai.

Over N175m was donated by individuals and groups at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja venue of the launch of the four-part book which chronicles the life of the President including his educational background, political career and family among others.

Jonathan advised politicians who are interested in occupying any elective position either at state or federal level not to be desperate.

He said the only things needed were readiness and willingness.

The President said, “My second message is to all of us, especially those of us who are politicians, that for all of us who want to serve, we should ‎be ready to serve but we should not be desperate to serve our people.

“Sometimes, people ask me that Mr. President, from what we read and what we see, we see you still smiling and unruffled.

“Yes, nothing will really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not desperate to serve. That is what keeps me going.

“All of us who want to hold offices from the least, a counselor of a ward or a chairman of a council, a member of the state House of Assembly or member of House of Representatives, Senate, Governor or the President, if all of us are always ready and willing to serve our people but we are not desperate in that our mission, then of course Nigeria will be a better place for all of us.”

Jonathan who described the story of his life as a humble one noted that most accounts of his life so far published are not accurate.

He said while the book being presented provided an account that is close to being accurate, he would write the most accurate one after leaving office.

He promised that as long as he remains the President, he would continue to come up with programmes that will help young people.

While expressing the confidence that beneficiaries of his administration’s YouWin Programme would be shocking the country in the next 10 to 15 years, he also said a product of the Almijiri schools being established by his government would one day become the President of the country.

He said that was why he is passionate about education and decided to increase the number of federal universities across the country.

I’m not desperate to serve, says Jonathan