Why I Didnot Sack Service Chiefs

THE President yesterday gave an insight into why he is still keeping the Service Chiefs he inherited from the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He said he considered the polity’s stability more important than protecting his presidency. Dr Goodluck Jonathan spoke at a thanksgiving service to mark Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s 60th birthday at Molete Baptist Church, Ibadan. The city was full of excited crowds hailing the President. It was his first official visit to the state. President Jonathan said he shunned the advice to sack the Service Chiefs when he became the Acting President, despite the threats such a decision might have on his position. Jonathan was thanking the military for not truncating democracy during the political crisis sparked by former President Yar’Adua’s ill-health. He advised fellow politicians to trade personal ambitions for the overall good of the nation. Besides, he said, they should conduct themselves in ways that will give Nigerians hope in the system. He deplored infighting among politicians, who he described as major actors in the leadership scene, saying it only kills hopes of a better tomorrow in the minds of Nigerians. Jonathan did not name those who advised him to dump the Service Chiefs, but he confirmed what was a big rumour in the polity. His words: "Immediately I became Acting President, I was advised to move Service Chiefs, but I refused because I felt the polity should be stabilised. I left them at the expense of my own position. We have to thank the Army that in spite of the political turbulence, they did not strike. We (politicians) must conduct ourselves very well. "From vice chairmen of local governments to the deputy governors to the Vice President, you must be loyal to your bosses because the chairmen, governors and the president take their deputies into confidence on a number of salient matters. "Political fights do not raise hopes of Nigerians but only show the major actors as those that are unable to manage themselves. We got to positions not by our strength but by God." The President regretted that deputies do not usually succeed their bosses in Nigeria though they are normally expected to learn from them to succeed them in other societies. He showered encomiums on Alao-Akala, whom he described as his "good friend" and fellow former deputy governor. Jonathan urged the nation to pray for his administration’s success. Earlier, Alao-Akala gave thanks to God for his life. He recalled that he lost his father when he was 30 months old but that God saw him through. The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde, who preached at the service, spoke on the need for thanksgiving, quoting from Psalm 103. He analysed the life and times of King David, stressing that he was favoured because he always appreciated God for showering His mercies upon him. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, governors of Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states and traditional rulers were at the service. Others include Minister of State for Finance Remi Babalola and frontline businessman Jimoh Ibrahim. But the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, was absent. Though he replied the governor’s letter of invitation and congratulated him, he gave no reason for his inability to attend the ceremony in his correspondence. Thousands of residents trooped out to welcome President Jonathan. School pupils lined the major streets from the airport to the venues of projects commissioned. Also among the dignitaries who received Jonathan were Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, PDP Vice-President, South-West. Jonathan’s first port of call was Challenge-Orita where he inaugurated the newly built Challenge-Elewe-Apata dual carriage way. He also inaugurated the Molete-Oke-Ado-Queen Cinema dual-carriage way before attending the thanksgiving service. Jonathan was entertained at the Polo Ground, Eleiyele, before returning to Abuja. Also at the ceremony were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and members of the State Executive Council.