[dropcap]H[/dropcap]appy 59th birthday to President Goodluck Jonathan, a man of honor and peace and one that has brought so much joy and hope to millions.
You have proved to the world that African leaders can be competent, kind, gentle, humane and selfless.
You have everything to be proud of and much still lies ahead for you in the affairs of our nation.
You are the light amidst the darkness: a man that was prepared to let go of power whilst others crave for it, abuse it and are obsessed with it.
Had it not been for that single and historic decision that you made to concede the election last year and congratulate your opponent, Nigeria would have been plunged into a cauldron of fire and the greatest and most bloody civil war that the world has ever known.
You let go not because you lost but because you wanted to deny those that have been afflicted with an insatiable blood lust and that take delight in carnage and violence the opportunity to unleash hell on Nigeria and slaughter millions of innocent souls.
Instead of thanking you, those same forces have repaid your good with evil.
Yet God will judge them at the appointed time and He will reward you for your love, warmth, kindness, gentle nature and selflessness.
Nigeria, nay Africa and indeed the entire world, will never forget you and though we are suffering the most barbaric and relentless form of persecution today, those of us that lined up behind you during the struggle for power last year are still very proud of you.
Congratulations and many happy returns to you Mr. President. Keep shining and keep smiling because despite all we see today the future is still great and bright.
For you it is not yet over. Have a great day.
Femi Fani-Kayode is a lawyer, a Nigerian politician, an evangelical christian, an essayist, a poet and he was the Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to President Olusegun Obasanjo from July 2003 until June 2006. He was the minister of culture and tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from June 22nd to Nov 7th 2006 and as the minister of Aviation from Nov 7th 2006 to May 29th 2007. He tweets from@realFFK.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
