Jonathan tasks politicians on forgiveness, says he doesn’t hold grudges

Former president Goodluck Jonathan says he does not hold grudges against people over past actions, even when he feels hurt.

Jonathan spoke on Wednesday evening at a requiem mass in Abuja for the late Audu Ogbeh, the elder statesman, politician and farmer.

He highlighted the importance of forgiveness and moving on from the past, especially in politics, for national cohesion and development.

Jonathan described Ogbeh as a humble and forgiving man who never held on to resentment.

“Chief Ogbeh was a man who did not seek revenge. He believed the past should be left behind and that we must keep moving forward,” Jonathan said.

“In that sense, he was just like me. If you hurt me today, I will forgive you. I don’t carry grudges against people. I believe the past is past — and I move on.”

Jonathan recalled that his friendship with Ogbeh began when he was deputy governor.

“I didn’t know Chief Ogbeh until I became a deputy governor when he was serving as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he said.

“At that time, deputy governors were often seen as spare tyres, but he treated me as a close friend. Whenever I visited Abuja, I would go to see him, and we always had good conversations. He was such a kind and generous person.”

Jonathan said their relationship remained cordial even after he became president.

“Whenever he wanted to see me, he would come, and sometimes we would spend up to an hour discussing national issues,” he said.

He urged politicians to emulate Ogbeh’s humility, spirit of forgiveness, and ability to unify people across different segments of society.

Ogbeh, who served as agriculture minister in the first term of late President Muhammadu Buhari, died at the age of 78 on August 9