The Presidency last night rose
in defence of President Goodluck Jonathan for not speaking at the memorial
service in honour of the former South African leader, Nelson Mandela in South
Africa.
The President had come under serious
condemnation by critics in the social media, who wondered why he went to
Johannesburg in the first place without rendering an oration in honour of
Madiba as other world leaders did.
But Presidential Spokesman, Dr
Reuben Abating, dismissed the attacks on the President as a classic case of
much ado about nothing, as Jonathan was not billed to speak at the ceremony in
the first place.
According to Abati, only six out of
the 100 world leaders at the event, were slated to speak and Jonathan was not
one of those chosen to render any speech.
“The late Madiba’s burial is not a
United Nations Debating session. It is what it is a burial: a solemn, national
ceremony,” Abati said.
” Leaders from all over the world
attended the Memorial Service to pay their last respects and to identify with
South Africans in their hour of grief. It was certainly not meant to be an
occasion for political grandstanding or the waving of flags.
“Out of about 100 world leaders who
attended the event today, only six spoke at the ceremony. It was made clear at
the occasion that the Chairman of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
will speak on behalf of African leaders. And she did.
“I do not agree that Nigeria was
insulted in any way. It was good that President Jonathan attended the Memorial
service and that Nigeria is in solidarity with the South Africans.
“If every leader who attended the
service had been asked to say a word, the event would not have ended. There
were many other leaders at the event, whose countries have strong historical
and political ties with South Africa, but who did not speak.
“I have not heard their compatriots
crying like babies. This is obviously a further indication of a rising,
minority tendency to read the negative into every official item,”Abati said.
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