Former President Goodluck Jonathan has underscored forgiveness and reconciliation as indispensable tools for fostering Nigeria’s unity and driving sustainable development.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Jonathan declared that he holds no bitterness or resentment over past political actions or personal attacks, stressing that true leadership demands letting go of grievances.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, September 24, at the requiem mass in honour of the late Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jonathan praised Ogbeh’s exemplary character, describing him as a man of humility who embodied the spirit of forgiveness.
“Chief Ogbeh never sought revenge; he always believed the past should be left behind so we can move forward. In that sense, he was just like me. If you hurt me today, I will forgive you. I don’t carry grudges against anybody. I believe the past is past, and I move on,” Jonathan said.
Recounting the origins of their friendship, Jonathan recalled meeting Ogbeh while serving as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, during Ogbeh’s tenure as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite the perception of deputy governors as “spare tyres” at the time, Ogbeh treated him with warmth and respect, forging a bond that endured through Jonathan’s presidency.
“Whenever I visited Abuja, I would go to see him, and we always had meaningful conversations. Even as President, he would sometimes spend hours with me discussing national issues,” Jonathan noted.
He urged Nigerian politicians to embrace Ogbeh’s virtues of humility, forgiveness, and bridge-building, stressing that these qualities are vital for healing divisions and securing the nation’s progress.
Persecondnews recalls that Jonathan’s call resonates with his legacy of peace, exemplified by his historic concession in the 2015 presidential election, a decision that helped avert a national crisis.
Audu Ogbeh, who passed away on August 9, 2025, in Abuja, was a prominent statesman who served as PDP National Chairman (2001–2005) and later as Minister of Agriculture under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, where he championed agricultural reforms and food security initiatives.
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