President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that more of his friends will abandon him after his exit from office on May 29.

He stated this on Sunday during a thanksgiving and farewell service organised in his honour at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

The president noted that from his experience, he had observed that people would at a time abandon anybody who took “hard decisions” like he did while in office.

He added that he had always believed that more of his friends would desert him after May 29.

The President recalled the story of the last ruler of apartheid South Africa, Frederik de Klerk, who was divorced by his wife for accepting to abolish minority rule in the country, and said jokingly that he hoped his wife, Patience, would not also divorce him after the end of his tenure on May 29.

The whole congregation was thrown into laughter after the First Lady replied with a shout of “Nooooo.”

The President said, “I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard decisions have their own cost; and there is no doubt about that.

“That I have run the government this way, that stabilised certain things, the electoral process and other things that brought stability to this country. They are very costly decisions which I must be ready to pay for.

“Some people come to me and say this or that person, is he not your friend that benefitted? Is it not your government that this person benefitted from? But this is what the person is saying.

“But I used to say that worse statements will come. If you take certain decisions, you should know that those close to you will even abandon you at some point.

“And I tell them that more of my so-called friends will disappear. When de Klerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in South Africa, even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made South Africa to be a global player now. If they still have minority rule, by this time, nobody will be talking about them.

“If you take certain decisions, it might be good for many but it might affect others differently. So, for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them because they will be persecuted. They must be ready for persecution.

“Quoting Tai Solarin, may your ways be rough, I say to my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times, we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough.”

He said considering what God had done in his life, he wished he could dance like the biblical King David.

Jonathan said, “I want to thank God for what he has done for me and my family. I wish to dance more than David, if I tried to dance, I missed my steps.

“I have all the reasons to thank God. Very few of those in my age bracket have been that lucky. All through my education, I was on government scholarship. I have not suffered lack not because I am hardworking, but it has been God’s grace.

“When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the President of this country, I say that if soldiers and policemen that have not received 0.5 per cent of the benefits that I have had from the state can lay down their lives for this country, I should do anything in the interest of Nigeria, including paying the supreme price.

“As long as I live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person.

“I have to thank Nigerians, especially the people of my state (Bayelsa) for giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor. I thank all Nigerians who gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and President. I had their support to complete the tenure of the late president. (Umaru Yar’Adua) and later serve as President from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man.” 

The President also thanked the church for standing by him even at his most difficult times.