NIGERIA, NIGER DELTA AND GBARAMATU WILL ALL SUCCEED DESPITE CHALLENGES – JONATHAN

The immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan have stated that Nigeria is a great country and expresses his belief that despite challenges faced in the country, Niger Delta and Gbaramatu kingdom will definitely succeed against all odds.

The former President gave the assurance yesterday at the Royal Palace of the 26th monarch of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Aketekpe Agadagba, Oboro Gbaraun II, during the presentation of staff of office ceremony at Oporoza.

In a goodwill message during the event, Dr. Jonathan expresses joy over the peaceful nature of the Gbaramatu people, stressing that the foreigners will even think better haven’t seen the people organized themselves peacefully for such big occasion.

In his words “Today is a day that we are all happy and I believe some of our friends who came in from outside the country will even think better because people most cases when you talk about the Niger Delta and Gbaramatu Kingdom, you will always think that people cannot even gather peacefully to handle this kind of ceremony but we are here and have seen that the people are living in a peaceful environment, that gives me joy and makes me quite happy.”

While congratulating the monarch of Gbaramatu Kingdom on his presentation of staff of office, erstwhile president Jonathan said “Your Majesty, I am here only to congratulate you not to make a speech because we have to be mindful about speeches at this time”.

According to GEJ, for Oboro Gbaraun II to have ascended the revered and ancient throne of Gbaramatu Kingdom, it means that he is highly respected and regarded by his people.

He emphasized that there can’t really be development without peace as he charged all traditional rulers present at the occasion as critical stakeholders in the polity to always ensure peace in their various Kingdoms.

Dr. Jonathan also reiterates that he has been to Gbaramatu Kingdom severally while he was in office, he particularly disclosed that he was at the Kingdom to lay the foundation stone for the maritime university, the laying of the foundation stone for the deep seaport and as well as the laying of the foundation stone for the petrochemical complex at Ogidigben.

“Its my pleasure to be here to come and witness the formal presentation of staff of office, this is a stool from the programme that was established in 1372 and for you to climb the throne now shows that your people have high regard and respect for you, they believe in you, is not a new stool, is an ancient stool, a stool that has endured, a stool that has endured winters, springs, floods and dry seasons, all what we can do collectively because not everybody will have the opportunity to give a goodwill message is to formerly congratulate you, I am speaking on behalf of all those invited here, the governor has given his charge and I don’t want to add to that but I can always say there can’t be development without peace.

“The duty of every King is to ensure peace in their Kingdoms and should be able to mobilize their sons and daughters for the social and economic development of their Kingdoms especially for Gbaramatu with several oil industry activities going on where people from different parts of the world are coming to do one thing or the other.

“I have been here several times as even mentioned in the welcome address, I was here to lay the foundation stone for the Deep Sea Port, to lay the foundation stone for the Maritime University, I was at Ogidigben to lay the foundation stone for the proposed petrochemical complex.

“I believe that within this period there have been challenges in the Country, in the Niger Delta and Gbaramatu Kingdom, these are temporary challenges, surely society will get over it. I believe that Nigeria is still a great country and would continue to succeed, the Niger Delta will succeed Gbaramatu Kingdom will succeed and Nigeria will succeed.” GEJ stated.