I’ll forever remain grateful to Alamieyeseigha – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has paid tribute to his former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, for giving him a breakthrough in politics.
Chief Alamieyeseigha picked Dr. Jonathan as running mate for the 1999 governorship election in Bayelsa State which they won.
The former President went on to replace Alamieyeseigha as governor following his impeachment.
He was preparing to seek re-election as governor in 2007 when he was drafted in as running mate to the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua in that year’s Presidential election.

Speaking during  an interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by the Bayelsa State government as part of the grand reception in his honour in Yenagoa, yesterday Jonathan said he never dreamed of becoming  a commissioner in the state until Alamieyeseigha convinced him to become his running mate in 1999.
“Without Alamieyeseigha, l wouldn’t have been here talking about being a former President. Nobody would have heard about Jonathan without him. So, help me thank him,” he said.
He appealed to religious leaders and the Christian community to keep praying for him and his family saying that he would continue to contribute to development and nation-building by virtue of his current position.
He commended the CAN President and other Christian leaders for their prayers and support throughout his Presidency.
Jonathan who read the first Bible lesson from Luke 17:11-12 hailed his former aides for their services to the country saying that they all worked tirelessly to develop the country.
He praised Dickson for packaging the grand reception.
The thanksgiving service, which was held at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ovom, Yenagoa, was attended by dignitaries from across the country and abroad.
Governor Seriake Dickson and his wife, Rachel, Deputy Governor John Jonah, Alamieyeseigha, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson and other notable politicians in the state were in attendance as were over 50 former presidential aides including ministers.
The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, led a high-powered delegation of Rivers people including the former Governor of the state, Celestine Omehia, to the event.
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor  Ayo Oritsejafor, received Jonathan and his wife, Patience, at the church.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dickson said the people of the state were elated to welcome the former President and thanked the people for accompanying him to his Otuoke country home.
“The significance of this thanksgiving is that we as a government felt that all the activities will not be complete unless we assemble here to thank the awesome God for the opportunity granted us to serve this country.
“Our leader Jonathan did a great job and he has now entered into an exclusive club of national and international statesman. We know the challenges of public office but God helped him and we are very grateful to God”, he said.
In his sermon, Pastor Uma Ukpai described Jonathan as “one man that remembers those who helped him when he was nobody. He was approachable and he doesn’t behave like a   Nigerian.”
The highpoint of the event was a presentation made to Mrs. Jonathan by a group of Abuja women led by Onyeka Onwenu.