Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has described former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the best president Nigeria ever had.
Responding to the condolence visit on Friday by the former president over the demise of his elder brother, Alhaji Abubakar Bappa Duguri, the governor also described Jonathan as the most level-headed Nigerian president.
The governor noted that many were now struggling to become the next president of Nigeria, but no one could match Jonathan’s qualities, stressing that the former president gave Nigeria the best which would be difficult to equal by anyone.
Bala said, “You remain the best thing to have happened to this country called Nigeria. Your selfless service and sacrifice have made Nigeria greater than how you met it.
“You are part and parcel of us in Bauchi, but your position and achievements are beyond me, Bauchi State or anybody. As somebody has said, you have carved a niche for yourself as a humane and simple leader.”
He also described Jonathan as a leader who lives very well, who peacefully lives with people, “For someone like me, I always look to cherish our relationship where I came to national limelight and prominence through your benevolence and act of Allah.”
Bala continued: “We hardly had anything in common even at party level but because of nationality and patriotism placed in your heart and the need to create unity you made me come to national relevance and limelight.”
“With humility, through your office, we built over 10,000 millionaires in Nigeria, through your benevolence we have helped so many people, there are so many people who rose during your tenure.”
Governor Bala attributed the feat to the extension of the goodwill Jonathan had created across the board, adding, “You gave me trust and I will always remember that you did that without my input, without anyone talking to you on my behalf.”
Governor Bala Mohammed who appreciated the former president for the condolence maintained that the visit was a great honour done to him.
Earlier, while condoling the governor and his entire family over the death, Jonathan said, “It is a solemn assembly to pay a condolence, but one would have loved to visit here to commission a project.
“We are mortals and must die one day. I am here to condole a younger brother who lost his elder brother. Nobody knows the date of death unlike when a woman is pregnant, and the expectant parents will guess the date of delivery.
“He has come, and Allah has called him back, there is nothing we can do about that only to pray for fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss”, he said.
The former President added, “The world is just a stage where we all came to play different parts. One thing though is that people leave when the ovation is loudest leaving behind things that will make people remember them.”
Jonathan, accompanied by Reverend John Kennedy Opara and Bawa Ishaku, sympathized with the family of the deceased, describing the loss as a huge one.
The delegation paid a similar visit to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu at his palace where special prayers were offered.
