Politics
Jonathan Very Patriotic, Never Clueless As President – Ex-Minister
Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdulahi, has defended former President Goodluck Jonathan who had been roundly criticised as weak and clueless during his reign as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2010-2015, saying that the former President was neither weak nor clueless.
Abdulahi made the assertion in Port Harcourt at the weekend, during the first quarter August Meeting organised by Education Champion League Committee for the review of his book “On A Platter Of Gold – How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria”.
The former Minister, who also served as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (2016-2018), disagreed with the widely held claims that the former President was weak and clueless but instead described him as a patriot.
He said: “Definitely he’s not weak, definitely he’s not clueless from my experience. The most important thing I know about him is that he’s very patriotic. As a patriot he’s also someone who’s careful about how he uses power.
“He understood the enormity of the powers of the President and he used to say that if he uses 30 percent of his power as President of Nigeria, he will become a dictator. So he’s someone who is careful and who is also reluctant to hurt people. So because of his reluctance to hurt people, it’s possible that some will interpret it to mean that he’s clueless”.
“Some of the things that he did at the time, some other people have done the same and even worse. So I think he was just a victim of the kind of politics of that time. I think if he had been president at this time, he would probably have had a different approach”.
Abdulahi who also is the author of “Sweet Sixteen”, described his latest book as an attempt of “a journalist trying to practice history”, saying he was inspired to write the book a long time ago.
He added that as a Minister, he did not see every event that played out from the point of view of a typical Nigerian politician but as a technocrat and a journalist with the irresistible urge to document what he saw in Nigerian power play.
He stressed; “I saw everything in government from a news angle, but soon realized that I couldn’t report all that I saw in government. I saw myself mainly as a journalist and technocrat not as a politician and realized that I was excluding myself from the mainstream but the journalistic instinct in me took a better part, so the book came forth”.
The former Minister, while commending the organisers of the event, added that what inspired him to write the book was to document for posterity the inner political intrigues, complications and complexities that played out during the former President’s meteoric rise to the highest office in Nigeria as President and his eventual loss of the coveted office.
Abdullahi said he was elated that the review of his book was part of the programme of the first quarter “August Meeting” by the organisers who also used the occasion to launch the Port Harcourt Education Champions League.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
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