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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigerians have proved wrong those who prophesied doom in the country after the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan disclosed this in his Facebook yesterday while reacting to the honour bestowed on him by the largest newspaper in America, The African Sun Times Newspaper, which named him its International Person of the Year, 2015.
The ex-president also reaffirmed his belief in the country, expressing optimism that Nigeria would surmount the challenges confronting it in the new year.
He said , “I thank The African Sun Times for naming me as its International Person of the year, 2015. I am indeed humbled by this honour.
“When I think about it, I understand why this medium may have thought me worthy of such an honour. However, I believe that my people, the Nigerian people, are more deserving of this honour.
“We, the Nigerian people, put to shame naysayers and prophets of doom and in 2015, we held a most transparent, violence-free and credible elections that transferred power from one political party to another and from an incumbent to the opposition, without rancour, bitterness or strife.
“In the process, we proved that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian or any national of any country for that matter. That to me, is a most worthy testimonial of the character of the Nigerian nation and the resilience of our people, which is why I dedicate this honour to them. May God continue to bless Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Jonathan, who ruled the country between 2010 and 2015, further admonished Nigerians to live together in peace and unity, saying that is the will of God.
He said, “In the 80s, our people sang and danced to the hit song ‘Nigeria go survive’. I am convinced that in 2016, Nigeria will not only survive, she will also thrive and help drive the peace, prosperity and unity of all her people.
“We are all brothers and sisters born from the womb of one Nigeria and as I have said previously, we would not be Nigerians if God did not will it.
“Having found ourselves as Nigerians by the divine providence of God, let us celebrate our Nigerianness and make 2016 our turning point year in which we embrace each other and work as a team to advance the frontiers of Nigeria in every field of human endeavours,” he said.
