Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in Abuja said that Nigerians must not allow anti-democratic elements whom he refereed to as hooligans to have access to power, saying it would become a dangerous weapon in their hands.
Agreeing there was no alternative to democracy, he however said that there was every tendency that anti democratic elements would abuse it.
This came as former President Goodluck Jonathan revealed that the abduction of Chibok girls and lingering issue of Boko Haram were used against him in the 2015 election.
But President Muhammadu Buhari, former Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) hailed Jonathan for conceding defeat in the election, saying it was one singular act of kindness that largely saved Nigeria from shedding blood.
The leaders spoke at a public presentation of a book titled “My Transition Hours” authored by Jonathan which captured the life and times of his government between 2010 and 2015.
The book launch attracted the presence of former Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President of Ghana, John Mahama, former Presidents of Seirre Leone and Benin Republic, President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, past and serving Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Ministers of the PDP, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomole, President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Akwuwumi Adesina, former Speaker Ghali Umar N’Abba, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Mr. Ibn Chambas, former Governor Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor Jim Nwobodo, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, the representatives of the diplomatic community in Nigeria, representatives of traditional institution in Nigeria and a host of other dignitaries.
Obasanjo who was the chairman of the book launch held at the Transcorp Hilton recalled that every democrat is faced with four seasons in his life.
According to him, there were times of euphoria arising from electoral victory and fame; and times of disappointment.
He however said that a leader must continue to serve his people at all times.
He also congratulated Jonathan on his 61st birthday.
Said Obasanjo: “The birthday boy. I congratulate you and we all congratulate ourselves for you. I thank you for making me the chair of the occasion. We must also congratulate you for enjoying a peaceful retirement. You have put your experience in the book. Let me also welcome you to the club of authors. From experience, there are four seasons for a democrat.
“The first is when you start campaign and you are going round and everything is going well and the election comes and you win. The second season is when you take up office and all is going well and then you have ups and downs and, of course, you came in with high popularity as you go on, the popularity starts to dwindle and you lose election. The beginning of the third season is it does not matter who you are. You would have list friends particularly the fair weather friends. When you leave office, you lose office and the fourth season is when you have weathered the storm and you start up again. If you have launched this book three years ago, you wouldn’t have mustered the crowd you have today.
We are enjoying that life. “We have residual responsibility to continue to serve people and God and that’s is the position you are in now. You and I have residual responsibility to serve the public. “But when all is said and done, there is still no substitute for democracy. It fosters peace and not conflict and violence. It builds and does not destroy. It unifies rather than divides. It does. But all these happen if only democracy stands as instrument in the hands of democrats.
“But we must avoid hooligans to have access to this dangerous weapon because they will abuse it.” Obasanjo while reiterating the role of Nigeria in African affairs also took time to acknowledge the presence of his former Vice and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the forthcoming election.
“Nigeria has responsibility beyond its borders, for West Africa and the world. Our responsibility must go beyond our borders.
“I want to specially acknowledge the presence of my former Vice President”, he said. Also speaking at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari recalled the call former President Jonathan put across to him to congratulate him and subsequently conceded defeat.
The president said that history will judge his predecessor well.
The President also called on Nigerians to eschew rancour and bitterness especially as the 2019 elections drew bearer.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, the president made a joke of his campaign slogan that Nigeria was going to the next level.
But the joke met a swift resistance from the audience who shouted “Atiku, PDP, Let’s get our country working again”.
Said Buhari: “Your singular action of placing a call to me calmed all frayed nerves. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and I were parties to ensure that 2015 elections were violence-free. History has recorded your time. History will judge you well as a patriotic leader.
“I call on all to see elections as a contest based on principle, programmes that should uplift the nation. There is best level, there is only the next level. I charge you today to promote one Nigeria. You are a leader of the past, you are a leader of the now, be rest assured you are a leader of the present.”
In his goodwill message, Gen. Gowon thanked Jonathan for resisting voices that told him to hang onto power at the time, saying that it saved Nigeria a serious trouble.
“All the speeches made here today have been wonderful. What am I to add? Let me first congratulate you on your 61st birthday. What I want to say is that I remembered that the concern of everyone was how the election was going to go. It was serious. Then on the final day, the news came that Ebele Jonathan had conceded defeat and congratulated the winner. There was much jubilation. You did something that many people have not been able to do and you saved Nigeria from a serious trouble. May God bless you for that. Thank God for what you have done.
“Some of his party members were telling him to resist the result. But you accepted and saved Nigeria and Nigerians. I cannot add anymore to what others have spoken. What you had done had saved Nigeria and Nigerians would ever be grateful to you”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) said that Nigeria would remain eternally grateful to Jonathan.
“On behalf of my wife, I congratulate President Jonathan. We cannot thank you enough for the peace we are having in the country through peaceful transition when you voluntarily and honourably conceded defeat. You have brought peace to this country. You became an example to Africa. You showed that you loved your country more than you love power. I wish you well.”
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo also eulogised his former boss, saying he had written his name in the sands of time.
“You have written your name in the sands of time. He has distinguished himself as a true patriot and leader and that is why we are gathered here today. Your Excellency, you are a great man.”, he said.
For the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s finest hour was the time Jonathan conceded defeat.
“Let me on behalf of the Senate congratulate you. It was Nigeria’s finest hour in the African continent. As we all read the book, we all learn lessons. And we will not let it go down beyond our levels. Mr. President, the spirit of the book is what we should ensure. The spirit in the sense that no blood of any Nigerian is worth wasting. We will sustain the standard you have set”, he said.
Former Minister of Special Duties, Turaki Tanimu who spoke on behalf of former PDP Ministers Forum said that Jonathan made them proud.
“Today, we stand with our shoulders very high. In 2015, President Jonathan kept Nigeria together without fighting a war. Abdulsalami Abubakar returned Nigeria to path of democracy. President Obasanjo led the strong foundation for democracy. Those of us who served under the PDP are proud of PDP achievements for 16 years.”, he said.
Former Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State who also spoke for former PDP governors said that there were happy Nigerians had tasted two different governments and can now see the difference.
He asked Nigerians to vote out APC in the coming election.
In their separate remarks, former President of Ghana, John Mahama and former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma said that Jonathan brought true leadership to Nigeria and Africa.
For the President of AfDB, Adesina who was a Minister of Agriculture under Jonathan, it was an honour to have the former President as a boss.
“I am proud of you. You will always be my boss. I would never have been President of AfDB without you. Goodluck Jonathan is a man of peace. You prevented us from going back to war. Your humility has transitioned you into greatness”, he said.
In his remarks, the author of the book, former President Jonathan said that the Chibok girls issue was used against him in the 2015 election.
The former President also condemned vote buying which he said had become scandalous in Nigeria, asking INEC to live up to expectations of Nigerians.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party yesterday felicitated with former President Goodluck Jonathan as he marked his 61st birthday.
The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, described Jonathan as “an icon of democracy.”
Ologbondiyan also described him as “pillar of contemporary Nigerian democracy whose patriotism and personal sacrifices ensured the unity, stability and corporate existence of our dear nation, particularly given the circumstances of the 2015 general elections.
“Dr Jonathan remains a true Nigerian leader whose administration is known, not only for good governance and landmark development projects across the nation, but also for the entrenchment of democratic values, rule of law, equity and justice.
“His administration was also known for respect for separation of power and constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens, as well as engendering harmonious coexistence of all interests in our nation.”
He stated that Jonathan demonstrated that the true essence of leadership and statesmanship was the application of the virtues, opportunities and authority therein for the good of others, rather than self.
“And because of that, our party and indeed Nigerians celebrate him.
“The PDP, therefore, joins family members, associates and well-wishers at large in celebrating Dr Jonathan as he attains this milestone.”
The party, according to Ologbondiyan, also prayed that God would continue to keep Jonathan in good health and sound mind “as he gives himself to the service of our dear fatherland.”
However, former President Goodluck Jonathan says he personally handed the report of the 2014 National Conference to his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, with the hopes that he would implement the report.
Jonathan said rather than implement the report, Buhari went on to say he wanted the report to be confined to the dustbin of history.
The former President said this in his book titled, My Transition Hours, which was launched yesterday.
He said, “The President-elect took the National Conference report from me and I felt confident of it being used to chart the success of a better Nigeria. Two years after and faced with pressure from Nigerians to implement the conference report, it was widely reported that President Muhammadu Buhari said that the conference reports should be consigned to the dustbin of history.”
The former President also faulted Buhari’s claim that he would not implement the confab report because Jonathan decided to focus on the National Conference when he should have focused on the Academic Staff Union of Universities which was on strike.
Jonathan said contrary to Buhari’s claim, he did not ignore ASUU and in fact he was able to negotiate with the lecturers and got them to end their strike.
On why he didn’t personally implement the report of the conference despite having over seven months to do so, Jonathan said the crisis in the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives prevented him from doing so.
He said the then Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress and there was no way he would have been able to get his cooperation.
Jonathan added, “Those who say that my administration should have implemented the confab recommendations forget that I received the report a few months before the last general elections and at a time when the National Assembly was on break.
“Also, this was when the National Assembly was engulfed by so much tension and distrust. The Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, had led some members to defect to the APC, the then main opposition party. The Senate also suffered a number of defections.
“At the time the National Assembly was therefore not conducive to the health deliberations and consideration of such an important document.
“It was obvious that some members of the National Assembly and their collaborators were ready to shoot down anything that in their thinking would improve the image of my government.”