PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN`s MOTHER AND SISTER REVEAL HIS EARLY LIFE AS A CHILD!

President Goodluck Jonathan(GEJ) and his elder sister Obebatein are the 2 surviving children of their mother, Madam Eunice Aye Jonathan(nee Afeni), the president’s authorised biography ‘Wind Of Hope’ reveals. Recalling the circumstances of his birth on 20th November 1957 in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Madam Aye said: ” I often had prolonged labour during childbirth, sometimes for up to a week, and because of this, I usually had still-births. But when it was the turn of Goodluck,I delivered him the very day I started having labour pains”. She further added, “Only God knows how he created Azikiwe. He is unique. He was an exceptional child. When he was growing up, he never refused to go on any errand. He was so helpful to us his parents. Before he went to primary school and whenever he was holidays, he would accompany me to the farm, or follow his father to carve canoes and cut palm”.

His elder sister remembers him as a very caring child and says these qualities have remained with him till date,”He always showed his special love for me from our youth. Whenever a big boy threatened me, even if the boy was bigger than him, he would reproach him. He used to joke that he would marry a woman who was as tall as me or even taller than me. When he went into university and I got admission into a Teacher Training College, he advised me to be serious with my studies. When he got a scholarship, he made savings and gave me money to take care of my needs”. It is imperative to note that until 1999 when Goodluck Jonathan became Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, their mother strugled to make ends meet. It is on record that unless she was ill, Madam Eunice Aye Jonathan swept the Anglican Church in Otuoke every day for 30 years from when she became a Christian in 1976. She recounts that when she saw young people singing hyms from the hymnal, “All I wanted was for them(my children) not to be illiterate like me, for them to be able to sing Christian songs from the hymn books as well as read the Bible for me. God in his infinite mercy saw my sincere desire and decided to bless our family the way He has done. I know that we do not deserve it, but when God says yes, who can say no? We give him all the glory.”

Source: Adapted from “Wind of Hope”, President Jonathan’s authorised biography.