The former President who chronicled his adventure into politics, said but for Alamieyeseigha’s singular effort, his emergence as a politician, which eventually culminated in his becoming the President of the country for six years running, would not have been.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the St Peters Anglican Church, Yenagoa, as part of activities marking his return home after six years as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, organized by the Bayelsa state Government, Jonathan said, "Without Alameseigha, nobody would have known Jonathan today. I never thought I can even become a Commissioner."
He equally used the opportunity to thank those people who he said fasted and prayed for him silently for six years without him knowing them or them sending a text message to him that they were praying for him, saying their prayers were the ones answered by God the most.
"Just like all of us know, some people offer prayers and send you text messages that they are praying for you; they expect you to know that they are praying for you. There are people who don't even want you to know that they are praying for you. These are the prayers God listens to. I want to specially thank them."Dr. Jonathan said peace was paramount to the development and growth of any nation as political crisis could cause chaos and anarchy.
“From 1999 to date, my people, Bayelsans, and Nigerians have given me the rare opportunity for me to serve as the Deputy Governor, Governor of Bayelsa and Vice President and President of the country. I remain most grateful to all Nigerians. The best I can do now is to dedicate the remaining part of my life to peace building across the country.
“Nigerians have given me so much that I cannot pay back. That is why I maintained that we need peace in this country; we need development; political crisis does not bring development, but rather it brings destruction. And I believe the new administration will work with all Nigerians to make sure that Nigerians are happy. I am indeed happy that one of the statements that President Muhammadu Buhari made is that he does not belong to any clique; he belongs to all Nigerians. I congratulate him for that bold statement”
-Thisday