Jonathan tasks students on citizenship, patriotism

Former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged Nigerian students and youths to strive to be good citizens who will make sacrifices for Nigeria’s development and make the nation great.

The former President stated this on Saturday at Aduvie International School graduation ceremony in Abuja where he charged school children to imbibe the spirit of selflessness and love of country as exemplary patriots,  the type identified by Greek philosophers as citizens. Dr. Jonathan also advised them to avoid greed, nepotism and selfishness which are traits exhibited by those the Greeks identified as idiots and tribesmen.

The former President said: “I charge you to aspire to become citizens of our great country in the true spirit of patriotism as described by ancient Greeks.”

The former President explained that ancient Greeks categorised nationals of every country as citizens, idiots and tribesmen.

Dr. Jonathan noted that the idiots according to the Greeks are not people of low intelligence but the selfish ones who care only about themselves while the tribesmen are those who glorify nepotism and favouritism.

He said further: “The citizens are true patriots who consider the welfare of other citizens and the good of the nation in all their actions. I charge the graduating students of this great school and those coming after them that they must remain citizens and patriots.”

Dr. Jonathan further charged the students to be honest, diligent, industrious and aim for the stars, in line with the message of the anthem of their school.