A former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has eulogised a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, saying he was a very humble and forthright political leader.
Jonathan said just like Ogbeh, he has learnt to forgive and not hold grudges against those who offend him. This aspect of life, Jonathan stated, was something to remember about Ogbeh, whom he said he first met in the course of his work as deputy governor of Bayelsa State.
Saying that forgiveness was an important garment that everybody needed to put on at all times, the former president said in Abuja on Wednesday evening during a requiem mass in honour of the departed former minister of agriculture, that there was no point begrudging anyone.
He described Chief Ogbeh as a humble and forgiving individual who never held on to resentment, just like his attitude to life.
“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,” Dr. 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.”
Reflecting on his personal relationship with Ogbeh, Jonathan said “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). 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 added that their relationship remained cordial even after he became president., adding that “whenever he wanted to see me, he would come, and sometimes we would spend up to an hour discussing national issues.”
The former president urged Nigerian politicians to emulate the values Chief Ogbeh stood for, especially his humility, spirit of forgiveness, and ability to unify people across different segments of society.
