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Tag: Jonathan

  • I witnessed a lot of betrayal during 2015 election – Jonathan

    I witnessed a lot of betrayal during 2015 election – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that he witnessed a lot betrayal during the 2015 presidential election.

    Jonathan disclosed this on Thursday at the 70th birthday anniversary of Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe in Benin, Edo State capital.

    He said many Nigerian politicians were not dependable.

    According to Jonathan, Oghiadomhe is one of the few friends I have who can give out their neck for me.

    “Politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals. I have witnessed a lot of betrayal during 2015 election.”

    “You’ll find it difficult to see somebody who will say the same thing in the morning and say the same thing in the afternoon and in the evening.

    “They will tell you something this minute and the next one hour, they’ll say another.The next one hour they’ll say another thing. But, I am quite pleased to associate with Oghiadomhe,” he said.

    He added that Oghiadomhe “is one person who will take a bullet on my behalf”.

    “For me, he is somebody that you can take his words to the bank. Most politicians, you can not take their words to the bank.”

  • 2027: Those people pushing Jonathan played him in 2015 – Wike

    2027: Those people pushing Jonathan played him in 2015 – Wike

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned former President Goodluck Jonathan from being pushed to run for president in 2027

    Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, he charged the former president not to allow himself to be used again by politicians who deceived him in the past.

    “I know Jonathan very well. He has international respect and should maintain that. These same people weighing Jonathan down are the ones who played him in 2015.

    “They are only trying to cause confusion in the party.

    “People pushing Jonathan, what strength do they have? Were they not the same people who worked against him in 2015?

    “Those calling for a Jonathan candidacy are the same political actors who ‘played him’ during the 2015 elections.”

    Wike also distanced himself from contesting for the presidency in 2027.

    He explained that he won’t run for president because he works for President Bola Tinubu and has integrity to protect.

    Wike said: “I have integrity, I have character. The person who appointed me is there. We are saying he should run.

    “Then I will turn around to say I want to run? What kind of thing is that? How will my children even look at me? I will not run for president.”

  • 2027: Jonathan remains respected elder statesman, but can’t unseat Tinubu – APC

    2027: Jonathan remains respected elder statesman, but can’t unseat Tinubu – APC

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has observed with keen interest the growing speculations surrounding the possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the 2027 presidential race.

    According to reports, Jonathan who lost his reelection bid in 2025 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, is being persuaded by supporters to seek reelection in 2027 general elections.

    Speaking, the party’s spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Friday noted that the former president’s political relevance to unseat President Bola Tinubu, remained in doubt.

    “While we acknowledge the former president’s role in the peaceful democratic transition of 2015 — an act that rightly earned him praise at home and abroad — we must state, in clear terms, that Nigeria has since moved beyond the politics of sentiment, nostalgia, and symbolism.

    “The challenges of today and the future require bold, capable, and forward-thinking leadership — not a return to the comfort of a past that was far from perfect.

    “Let it be clear: good luck alone is not a governance strategy,” he said.

    Oladejo alleged that the Jonathan administration, from 2010 to 2015, left behind a country grappling with severe structural weaknesses — from unchecked corruption to alarming insecurity and economic inertia.

    “While some may look back on those years with rose-tinted glasses, we must remind ourselves that nostalgia is not a policy platform.

    “Emotion cannot drive economic reform, and sentimentality will not fix power generation, insecurity, youth unemployment, or education sector decay,” the APC chieftain said.

    Oladejo said that the party also noted the constitutional and political complications of a potential Jonathan candidacy.

    According to him, having completed more than one term in office, any return bid will inevitably trigger legal contention and political instability — distractions Nigeria cannot afford in a time when decisive action is needed across all sectors of national life.

    “Moreover, the former president’s political relevance has been complicated by his recent engagements across party lines.

    “His flirtation with the APC and absence from PDP’s strategic rebuilding efforts raise questions about his loyalty, clarity of vision, and political intentions,” he said.

    According to him, the APC remains focused on consolidating progress, implementing reforms, and engaging the Nigerian electorate with fresh ideas and credible candidates who reflect the aspirations of a dynamic, youthful population.

    “We believe the future of Nigeria does not lie in recycled leadership but in visionary governance rooted in integrity, innovation, and resilience.

    “Former President Jonathan remains a respected elder statesman. His legacy as a peaceful democrat is assured. But legacies are not manifestoes, and nostalgia is not governance.

    “We urge Nigerians to reject emotional shortcuts and stay focused on the need for capable, accountable and transformative leadership.

    “As 2027 approaches, let us not reach backwards in desperation, but move forward with courage and clarity,” Oladejo said.

    NAN

  • I was most demonised person during Jonathan’s regime – VP Shettima

    I was most demonised person during Jonathan’s regime – VP Shettima

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday in Abuja recounted his odeal under the administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Shettima made the revelation at the public presentation of a book titled, ” OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigeria Oil Block, “authored by the former Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.

    According to Shettima, in the last four years of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, I was the most demonized person, I was the public enemy number one.

    “There are two gentlemen seated here. Certain decisions are taken in a very rear peace circle.  The President, the Vice President,  the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    ” In one of such conclaves, former President Goodluck Jonathan with whom we have sheath the sword and have now recalibrated our relationship was muting the idea of removing this Borno governor.

    ”Aminu Tambuwal, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives had the courage to tell the President that your Excellency, you don’t have the powers to remove an elected councillor.

    ”The President was still not convinced,  he muted the idea at the Federal Executive Council, ” Shettima said.

    The Vice-President also expressed his admiration to Mr Mohammed Adoke for his courage,  conviction and capacity to stand for what he believes in.

    ”He (Mr Adoke) told the then President that Mr President you do not have the powers to remove a sitting governor not even a councillor.

    ”They sought for the opinion of another SAN in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki,  who said I’m concurring with the opinion of my senior colleague.

    ”That was how the matter was laid to rest but that was how my relationship with Mr Adoke and Aminu Tambuwal became eternally sealed. “

    Shettima also commended Adoke for the courage to forgive all those who had offended him in the course of his public duty.

    NAN reports that the 26-chapter book on the OPL 245, also known as Malabu oil deal scandal, centres on a 2011 agreement in which Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s Eni paid $1.3 billion to acquire Nigeria’s deep-water oil licence.

    The oil block is believed to hold nine billion barrels of crude.

  • Tinubu, Jonathan, Oborevwori pay last respect to EK Clark

    Tinubu, Jonathan, Oborevwori pay last respect to EK Clark

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday led a host of dignitaries, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Dame Patience, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and his wife, Tobore, to Kiagbodo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta to pay their final respects to the late elder statesman, Pa. Edwin Clark.

    Clark, a renowned nationalist and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), passed away on Feb. 17,  at the age of 97.

    The funeral service took place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kiagbodo, and was officiated by the Anglican Archbishop of the Ughelli Diocese, Most Revd. Cyril Odutemu, who praised Clark for his unwavering dedication to justice, integrity, and service to humanity.

    Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, described the late icon as “a patriot and champion of his community and the country.”

    “Though he lived to the ripe age of 97, his departure leaves an irreplaceable void for me, for the Niger Delta, the Ijaw nation, and our country as a whole.

    “All will surely miss him. His service and legacy will continue to inspire us,” Tinubu said.

    He commended Clark’s fearless stance on national issues, his advocacy for resource control, and his enduring commitment to justice and unity in Nigeria.

    “Until his last breath, he never stopped preaching togetherness to preserve national unity based on justice and equity,” the president added.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his tribute, described Clark as a “great nationalist” and “audacious voice for the voiceless.

    “Whether as a Federal Commissioner or elder statesman, he was a steadfast preacher of justice, minority rights, and good governance,” Jonathan said.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said Clark’s good memories “will forever remain.”

    He also donated N50 million towards the renovation of the existing church and the new building project.

    Delta Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, pledged to sustain the elder statesman’s legacy, describing his life as a model for future generations.

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed also donated N50 million towards the church project, while Akume pledged N10 million for the installation of church seating.

    Other dignitaries present included Governors Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Mrs Patience Jonathan.

    Others were former Governors Rufus Ada George (old Rivers) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), alongside numerous former and serving federal and state lawmakers.

  • Jonathan becomes first African to win Sunhak Peace Prize

    Jonathan becomes first African to win Sunhak Peace Prize

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been nominated as the winner of the 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Award.

    Mr Ikechukwu Eze, Special Adviser to Jonathan disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Eze said that the award would be presented to the former president by Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea on April 11.

    According to him, Jonathan becomes the third person and the first African leader to win this category of the award, after former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon and Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr Hun Sen.

    Eze said that this year’s award ceremony, the sixth in the series, would take place in Seoul on April 11, where Jonathan and other laureates would be decorated.

    He quoted the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee as stating that the honour was in recognition of Jonathan’s consistent mediations and pro-democracy activities to bring peace to the African continent.

    This, according to him, is especially through the instrumentality of the various associations he chairs, including Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF) and International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).

    NAN reports that the Founders Sunhak Peace Award and the Sunhak Peace Prize are two categories of awards presented biennially by the committee to individuals and organisations acknowledged as worthy contributors to world peace and human development.

    Prominent past winners of the second category, which is the Sunhak Peace Prize, included former Senegalese President Macky Sall and President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

    Others were Dame Sarah Gilbert, Co-developer of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as well as GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

    Eze said that Jonathan would be receiving his award alongside three individuals who were recently announced by José Barroso, the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee Chair and former President of the European Commission, as winners in the other category.

    They include Patrick Awuah Jr., Founder and President of Ashesi University in Ghana, Hugh Evans, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Citizen and Wanjira Mathai, Regional Director for   Africa at the World Resources Institute.

    Eze also quoted the founder of the prize, Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, as stating in her pre-event address that the lives of the laureates had been an inspiring testament to how peace could be realised through concrete actions and cultural transformation.

    “Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has identified and honoured individuals.

    “Individuals who have dedicated themselves to addressing urgent global challenges based on its three core values: respect for human rights, reconciliation of conflicts and ecological conservation,’’ Moon said.

    Established in 2015, the biennial Sunhak Peace Prize honours individuals and organisations that have shown extraordinary services to global peace and well-being in any of the three areas.

    The areas are sustainable human development, conflict resolution or ecological conservation.

  • Obasanjo hosts ex-president Jonathan, Atiku, Saraki, Ooni, others

    Obasanjo hosts ex-president Jonathan, Atiku, Saraki, Ooni, others

    Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday hosted his successor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former Sierra-Leonean President Ernest Bae Koromo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and one-time Senate President Bukola Saraki with his spouse Toyin.

    Also at the gathering was the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

    According to a tweet on his X handle, Atiku said the meeting held at the The Delborough Hotel, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Also in a tweet, Saraki said the event was to honour the former president, whose 88th birthday comes up on Wednesday.

    Saraki wrote in the tweet: “Toyin and I have just arrived at The Delborough in Lagos for a dinner celebrating His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, our dear former President and Founder of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.”

  • Why I didn’t implement recommendations of 2014 National Conference – Jonathan

    Why I didn’t implement recommendations of 2014 National Conference – Jonathan

    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday paid  condolence visits to the family of late Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

    During  Jonathan’s visit, he explained why his administration did not implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.

    Jonathan said that the political situation in Nigeria at the time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations.

    Recall that Adebanjo died on Feb. 14, 2025, in Lagos.

    He was aged 96.

    Jonathan and Abubakar were received at different times by the children of  the late elder stateman led by Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo.

    Members of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, led by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, were also present during the visits.

    Jonathan, accompanied by Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and other political stalwarts, arrived at Adebanjo’s Lekki residence at 1.57 p.m.

    Abubakar, who arrived about 3.00 p.m. was also accompanied by some PDP chieftains, including Chief Dele Momodu and Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State.

    At a meeting with the children of the deceased and members of Afenifere, Jonathan described Adebanjo as a Nigerian leader, not  just an Afenifere leader.

    Jonathan said: “Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country.

    “He was a man with enormous wisdom, courage and willingness to do the right thing for this country.

    “He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.

    “Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well.”

    Jonathan said that the 2014 National Conference would not have come up without the contributions of people such as the late Adebanjo.

    “He meant the best for this country,” he added.

    According to the former president, when a nation is not moving as expected, there is the need for a comprehensive dialogue.

    He said that those who participated at the conference were credible.

    Jonathan said, “I gave them total authority to discuss what is good for this country.”

    He said that a number of people had kept asking why he did not implement the recommendations of the conference.

    According to him,  most Nigerians do not know that there was a lot of political turbulence in the country at that period.

    He said that a key member of the legislature, who was in his party, mobilised against him and moved to another party.

    Jonathan added that some persons were ready to bring his administration down at that time.

    “It was not the time we could present such a document.

    “Thank God for everything. We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything,” he said.

    He said that the recommendations came from credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced.

    “We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”

    Speaking, Abubakar also described Adebanjo as a great leader.

    He said that Adebanjo’s death was a huge loss to his immediate family and those who admired him.

    “It is quite true that this house has hosted me a couple of times. I took away from this house virtues that Pa Adebanjo stood  for and preached all his life.

    “It is a matter of honour  that after his demise, we should come and pay respect for his contributions to the unity and peaceful co-existence of this country.

    “It is my singular honour and privilege to identify with his immediate family at this difficult time. We thank God  that he lived a worthy life.

    “We are here to condole with the family to let them know that we share in the loss because he was also a father to us. He was an adviser and a guide in what we are set to do for this country,” Abubakar said.

    According to him, the late Afenifere leader always told the truth.

    He said that his team would continue to honour Adebanjo and stand by his family.

    “We will continue to work together so that the dreams and aspirations of the late Papa will continue to flourish,” he added.

    Responding during Jonathan’s visit, the son of the deceased, Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, responded: “Baba was very grateful to you (Jonathan) for your courage to constitute the 2014 National Conference and for him being part of it.

    “He always celebrated you (Jonathan) for being the one that had the courage and wisdom to put that together.

    “He was also very happy when you said the blood of a single Nigerian was not worth your ambition.

    “All those things resonated with Baba. I want to welcome you for coming to condole with us,” he said.

    Ayo-Adebanjo also commiserated with Jonathan over the death of Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader.

    Clark died three days after Adebanjo’s death.

    Responding during Abubakar’s visit, one of the daughters of the deceased, Dr Sade Ayo-Adebanjo, commended the former vice-president  for identifying with the family.

    Also speaking, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, applauded Jonathan for simplicity and humility.

    “You (Jonathan) are a special specie. You are uncommon,” Olaitan said.

    NAN

  • In Nigeria we can’t get accurate count of votes – Jonathan reveals

    In Nigeria we can’t get accurate count of votes – Jonathan reveals

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Nigerian electoral system cannot get accurate votes during elections in the country.

    He made the revelation on Tuesday at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa held in Abuja.

    Jonathan noted that without strong and ethical leadership in electoral management, the electoral system would remain flawed.

    He said: “In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters.

    “We must have credible people. From what (ex-INEC Chairman, Attahiru) Jega said, political leaders who are so domineering will pressurise you to do what is wrong; you should be able to resign and leave. You should be able to resign and walk away, please.

    “If we don’t have this kind of people, then we are in trouble. And I don’t want any INEC official to say I was pressurised. If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or to be a commissioner of INEC, then you should be ready to say, ‘If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will take care of the democratic people and walk away’.

    ‘’And if we don’t have such people managing our electoral management bodies, if what we have are people who will continue to go in a circle, we will not get what we want.”

    He called for a robust electoral system that works to ensure credible elections.

  • You’re a peacemaker, Speaker Abbas hails ex-President Jonathan at 67

    You’re a peacemaker, Speaker Abbas hails ex-President Jonathan at 67

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has felicitated former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, as he clocks 67.

    Speaker Abbas, in a congratulatory message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, described ex-President Jonathan as a peacemaker, bridge-builder, and nationalist.

    The Speaker said ex-President Jonathan has become “a symbol of democracy” who has continued to preach peace and unity across Africa.

    He added that the former president has continued to serve his country, Nigeria, even after leaving office.

    Speaker Abbas, while wishing ex-President Jonathan more years on earth, in service to his fatherland, urged him to continue with his patriotic service to Nigeria.