President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said he did not expect Nigerians to shower praises on him while he is still in office.
He said it was normal that public office holders would only be commended after leaving office by the time his achievements were being compared with others.
Jonathan spoke while granting audience to a delegation from his home state, Bayelsa.
Members of the delegation led by Governor Seriake di.ckson were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to felicitate with him on Christmas and New Year festivities.
The President said notwithstanding the various challenges facing the country, he would do his best to make his people proud.
He said, “I always say that I will not even expect praises now because hardly do people praise serving leaders. It is when you leave, people will begin to know.
“When you leave, people will begin to compare what you have done over the period vis-a-vis what others have done, then they will compare you with whoever takes over.
“Probably that is the time some people will begin to say good about you. But I will do my best to make sure that we do change things.
“We are trying to create enabling environment for our economy to thrive irrespective of the challenges we are having in the petroleum sector and the security challenges we have.
“I will do my best so that by the time I will leave, you will be able to say that when our son was there, he served the country well so that one day, another son of Bayelsa may be given another opportunity to serve Nigerians.”
Jonathan observed that it has become the norm worldwide for people to be lambasting their leaders, especially on the social media.
He regretted that people are using different things that have been created by people’s knowledge for negative purposes.
He cited an example of dynamite, saying the inventor regretted when he realised the destructive purposes people have turned the item to.
The President added, “I assure you that I am here by the grace of God and with the willingness of Nigerians. If Nigerians say I shouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have been here. We contested election in 2011 and Nigerians voted for us.
“I am your own, if I don’t do well, the shame will be on you. If I do well, you will have some kind of pride. I will do my best.