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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