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Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Buhari meets Jonathan, calls for resolution of Mali’s political crisis

    Buhari meets Jonathan, calls for resolution of Mali’s political crisis

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has urged disputing parties in the ongoing political crisis in Mali to settle their differences and unite for the peace and unity of the country.

    Buhari made this call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday while receiving his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who currently serves as Special Envoy and ECOWAS mediator to Mali.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘President Buhari, Jonathan confer on crisis in Mali.’

    The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja called on the actors in the political crisis in Mali to come together for the peace and unity of the country.


    “The President spoke when he received in audience former President Goodluck Jonathan who is Special Envoy and ECOWAS mediator to the West African country.”

    The statement also quoted the President as saying that “a situation where most parts of the country are in the hands of insurgents calls for a consensus and restoration of peace, not a further escalation of the crisis.”

    Jonathan reportedly briefed the President on the current situation in Mali after meeting with the key political actors ahead of the meeting of ECOWAS leaders under the Chairmanship of President Nana Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana.

    He added that the meeting of the regional leaders was necessary to urgently find an acceptable solution to the current impasse in the West African nation.

  • BREAKING: PDP leaders meet Goodluck Jonathan

    BREAKING: PDP leaders meet Goodluck Jonathan

    As part of efforts to resolve the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, Leaders of the (PDP) Peoples Democratic Party’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee met with former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday

    The party last year appointed former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to head its national reconciliation committee.

    The committee also has one-time Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, and ex-governor of Cross River State Liyel Imoke as members.

    Other members of the committee include former Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo; ex-Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema and Hon. Mulikat Akande.

    Saraki announced the meeting on his verified Twitter handle, @bukolasaraki on Tuesday afternoon.

    Last year, top shots of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were jittery over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s meeting with some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including Governors.

    “As part of our efforts to listen to the concerns of key stakeholders across our great party, this afternoon, the @OfficialPDPNig Reconciliation & Strategy Committee is meeting with our immediate past President, H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (@GEJonathan),” Saraki tweeted.

    Saraki had assured that the committee would embark on genuine reconciliation in order to strengthen the party structures across the nation.

  • Many brothers are returning to PDP from APC – Goodluck Jonathan

    Many brothers are returning to PDP from APC – Goodluck Jonathan

    Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has said “many brothers” are returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonathan stated this on Sunday, while speaking at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the first anniversary thanksgiving of Governor Douye Diri’s administration.

    “I again urge Bayelsans not to see those in the opposition as enemies. Today ,they are there but tomorrow they might be here.

    “As I speak, many of our brothers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he said.

    Jonathan, however, urged politicians to see politics as a means of developing the people and not as welfare

    Others present at the event included: Dame Patience Jonathan, Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus, among others

  • Those of us in politics should learn to play politics as politics and not as a war – Jonathan

    Those of us in politics should learn to play politics as politics and not as a war – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged politicians to see politics as a means of developing the people and not as warfare.

    Jonathan spoke yesterday at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the first anniversary thanksgiving of the Governor Douye Diri administration.

    The thanksgiving was also used to celebrate the February 13, 2020, Supreme Court judgment that ushered in Diri as governor.

    Others at the thanksgiving were Dame Patience Jonathan, Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus, among others.

    The former president stressed that at the end of every political contest, politicians should sheathe their swords and work with the winner.

    He praised Diri for his non-discriminatory style of politics, which ‘had seen him embrace everybody regardless of their political leanings’.

    Jonathan also called for support from the people to enable the Diri administration to succeed.

    He said: “Those of us in politics should learn to play politics as politics and not as a war. At the end of the process, let us come together and support the winner.

    “I thank our governor for opening his mind to accept everybody irrespective of the political divide, and I urge him to do more.”

    Diri thanked God for the miracle that brought him to office, saying he would forever remain grateful and committed to the service of the state.

    The governor also thanked the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court Justices, for their courage in delivering such a landmark judgment. Diri said the Justices proved that the judiciary remained the last hope of the common man.

    He also thanked those who stood by him after the election and before the court ruling, especially Senator Seriake Dickson, Emmanuel and Makinde. According to him, they allowed God to use them to make his dream a reality.

    The governor urged the people to always exude love and embrace one another irrespective of party affiliations, stressing that the development of the state was bigger than any group or individual consideration.

    He said: “They say the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. For us, the judiciary was our last hope. We thank all those who contributed one way or another toward ensuring our victory.

    “I again urge Bayelsans not to see those in the opposition as enemies. Today they are there but tomorrow they might be here. As I speak, many of our brothers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo recalled that their hope was dashed but God served them to victory. He said they are grateful to God and the people for their solidarity during the difficult moments that led to the court victory.

    In their goodwill messages, Governors Makinde, Emmanuel and Mohammed, and Secondus hailed Diri for his strides in office. They were confident he would transform the state, and urged Bayelsans to support him.

    Pastor Lazarus Mouka of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement delivered a sermon ‘It is the Lord’s Doing’. He described Diri’s emergence as divine.

    According to him, there were limitations with man, but with God, all things were possible. He urged the people to turn to God for salvation.

    The cleric hailed the governor and people for the attitude of thanksgiving and prayed to God to enable Diri to fulfil his purpose for the state.

  • Restructuring Alone Will Not Solve Nigeria’s Problems – Jonathan

    Restructuring Alone Will Not Solve Nigeria’s Problems – Jonathan

    A former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that restructuring alone can not solve Nigeria’s problems and cannot be done in isolation.

    The former President called for the issues of nepotism, ethnic and religious bias to be addressed.

    He stated this on Thursday while speaking at a dialogue on restructuring in Abuja.

    He noted that Nigerians must restructure their minds because the issues at the national level still exist at the state and local levels.

    The immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo John Nwodo,  while delivering his speech said that Nigeria must restructure before the 2023 general elections.

    According to him, “We must change the constitution of the country as the 1999 constitution was not produced by the majority of Nigerians.”

  • 2023 Presidency: Jonathan still eligible to contest for election – PDP

    2023 Presidency: Jonathan still eligible to contest for election – PDP

    National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan and other chieftains of the party are free to vie for the presidential ticket in the 2023 general election.

    Secondus made the remarks while addressing journalists at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said the PDP is preparing to reclaim power in the next general elections, adding that the final decision on who gets the party’s presidential ticket in 2023 would be guided by the report of a committee set up by the leadership of the PDP and which work is still pending.

    “I stand by my position that Gov. Bala (Mohammed) led committee is still working. They are coming out with a report on why we lost and by the time they finish, we will take decisions and the decision is not for the National Working Committee but for the entirety of our party.

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    “And I believe that whoever that is interested in 2023 (presidential ticket), maybe including the former President, the chances are there because the PDP is a party of all.

    “Everybody will have that opportunity but in clear terms, we have not taken any decision to give anybody a ticket for now,” Secondus stated.

    He, however, described discussions on the 2023 elections as premature, saying that the state of the nation today is such that politics or anything concerning 2023, which is three years away, should take the backstage.

    Reacting to the recent defection of some prominent PDP chieftains, including a governor and a senator to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Secondus said the victory of the APC in that regard will be short-lived.

    Secondus asked the APC to stop running up and down poaching opposition members and face the challenges facing the nation, particularly insecurity.

    “Yes, they have been poaching from virtually all the parties. They have been running around but they have not been successful at all.

    “I believe that what should bother them most should be governance, the security, the economy, all that have broken down. The issue is that they should stop running up and down and face the reason why the people gave them the mandate to govern.

    “And if they do that, there will be no security issues; there will be no economic issues like hunger. I think that this is the most important thing,” the PDP stalwart stated.

    In recent times there have been reports suggesting that the two major parties in Nigeria have been trying to get former President Goodluck  Jonathan to run for presidency come 2023.

    However, Dr Jonathan seems undecided about returning to office in 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term.

    At a brief session with reporters in Abuja last Friday, the former president was asked if he would be joining the presidential race in the 2023 general elections, and he replied saying “it is too early to talk about that.”

    Issues such as insecurity have stirred debates regarding the competence of the present government and have got many Nigerians asking who will be their next leader.

    But Jonathan who believes that the quest for 2023 is too early, asked Nigerians to support the Federal Government and the security agencies to overcome the challenges.

    The former president noted that Nigeria is not the only country affected by insecurity, adding that he also had his challenges to deal with while in office.

  • Jonathan has been working for Buhari’s Government, APC Tells PDP

    Jonathan has been working for Buhari’s Government, APC Tells PDP

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) on Friday said former President Goodluck Jonathan has supported the current administration despite being a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    APC Spokesman, Yekini Nabena, made the comment while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

    Also appearing on the show was PDP spokesman, Mr Diran Odeyemi who said a number of APC governors are set to defect to the PDP.

    “Goodluck Jonathan has been working for this government,” Mr Nabena said. “He has been going to all African countries. If he is not a progressive person, he won’t have been working for this government. So the PDP should also know that.”

    Jonathan lost to Buhari in the 2015 general elections, but he has since taken up several diplomatic assignments across the continent.

    Recently, the ex-President led talks that helped to de-escalate the crisis in Mali.

    Mr Nabena, on Friday, argued that Jonathan’s work is evidence of the APC’s progressive streak.

    However, Mr Odeyemi disagreed, reiterating that the APC is set to witness a couple of top defections to the PDP.

    “Many APC Governors are talking to us,” Mr Odeyemi said. “Perhaps Nigerians have not seen the end of these activities. More Governors from APC are coming to join us. And I’m saying it with all emphasis.

    “The question we have to ask ourselves is, what has been the achievements of APC now, that will now warrant people to join them, if not for selfish reasons? Nigeria knows which party to vote for in 2023 and that’s what we rely on.”

  • Goodluck Jonathan receives birthday surprise from family

    Goodluck Jonathan receives birthday surprise from family

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to get over the beautiful surprise he got from his family for his 63rd birthday.

    Disclosing how his family gathered at his home in Bayelsa to felicitate with him on his 63rd birthday, Goodluck Jonathan via twitter wrote:

    “My family has been an integral part of my life’s journey; they have been my strength and a source of my success,”

    “This morning they did something unusual, from all corners of the town they assembled in my home offering prayers and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life.”

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    Adulations have been pouring in continuously for the former president.

    President Muhammadu Buhari wrote on Twitter about him: “Nigeria specially appreciates the dedication that has kept Dr. Jonathan working most recently as ECOWAS envoy to bring peace to the Republic of Mali. I pray that the Almighty God will grant him longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the nation and humanity.”

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa have also sent goodwill messages to Jonathan.

  • Northern Governors Greet Former President Goodluck Jonathan @ 63

    Northern Governors Greet Former President Goodluck Jonathan @ 63


    The Northern Governors Forum has sent warm felicitations to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on his 63rd birthday, November 20, 2020.
    In a congratulatory message, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong said the former President has continued to serve the country with zeal and commitment. 
    He said former President Jonathan is a true Democrat whose passion for the growth of democracy is reflected not only in his records while in office, but of his current engagements where he has travelled round the world to monitor elections and also engage with stakeholders. 
    The Governor also said saluted the former President’s patriotism and dedication to the unity, peace and development of Nigeria as well as offering counsel on various issues. 
    While wishing many more years of good health, peace and happiness, the Northern Governors asked him to remain focused on his life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to Nigeria.

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  • Buhari hails Goodluck Jonathan in birthday message

    Buhari hails Goodluck Jonathan in birthday message

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former President Goodluck Jonathan on his 63rd birthday.

    Jonathan turns 63 on November 20, 2020, and Buhari congratulated him for a life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to the country.

    A statement signed by Femi Adesina and made available on Thursday said that Buhari noted with appreciation, the peculiar and remarkable climb of the former president on Nigeria’s political ladder, “and dedication that has kept him working most recently as ECOWAS envoy to bring peace to the Republic of Mali.

    “President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will grant Dr Jonathan longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the nation and humanity.”