By Saidu Idris
365Daily – Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has stated that a leader should be remembered for legacies left behind and not for using political power to punish opponents.
He stressed that he has never believed in the use of temporary political office given by God to punish people.
Jonathan made this position known while speaking in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday, May 16, 2021, in an address at the 50th birthday celebration of Apostle Charles Osazuwa, President of the Rock of Ages Christian Assembly.
The event was attended by State Governors and other top functionaries.
He stated: “My belief, particularly when I joined politics, is not to use a temporary privilege, a temporary position God has given to me, to punish people.
“Some of the things I did while in office to which people still make reference were based on the conviction not to use my position to cause the death of anybody.
“Any position I have occupied by divine providence should not be used to create hardship for other people.”
He commended the cleric for his achievements at 50 years, saying, “you have impacted significantly on many lives.’’
In his address, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, lauded Apostle Osazuwa for using the word of God to address current realities and challenges facing the country.
He said: “What singles you (Apostle Osazuwa) out is your ability and capacity to use and link the challenges we are having today as a country with the scriptures and to use same to give hope to the people particularly the youths.
“Apostle Osazuwa understands the role of God and the role of the scripture in our modern society; nobody, in my view has been able to explain things the way he does.
“Government helps to organise us and when government fails to help us to express ourselves, it’s the church and men of God like you that help us to pick up the piece; government will always be grateful to people like you,’’ he said.
On his part, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, commended Apostle Osazuwa for the impact his church has made on the lives of the people.
He also urged religious ministers to continue to speak truth to power.
In his remarks, Apostle Osazuwa admonished politicians to make life easier for the masses.
He cited the story of King David who used his position to make things easier for the children of Israel and encouraged governors and all politicians not to use their positions to cause pain in the lives of the people.