It is 9:10am, and former President Goodluck Jonathan arrives at the mouth of the aircraft at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. His hat gives away him too soon as he saunters into the waiting metal bird. I cast a piercing glimpse at him, and said to myself, ‘’that was once the most powerful man in Africa, and perhaps, the most misunderstood’’.

We then journeyed on the wings of the bird from Abuja through Abidjan to Niamey.
But wait.

I was an irrepressible critic of Jonathan, yes, and I exercised this right as a citizen of Nigeria maximally under him. I was not arrested, detained or had minatory messages sent to me by his supporters or agents. I was not afraid to speak up or ”wail”. Other critics, including those who called for protests or even revolution during his administration were not hounded and dispatched to court for trial on farcical charges of treason. I enjoyed freedom.

However, under President Buhari, I cannot exercise my rights to freedom of expression, thought and opinion without the nagging fear of arrest, and the paranoia of secret service agents waiting for me at the airport for being a loud mouth or for wearing a banned T-shirt — since the DSS is now a fashion police.

Although President Jonathan had his challenges and failings; he is an exceptional gentleman and a democrat. He brooked opposition and harboured no political prisoner.
For two days, I have listened to him speak at the Constitutional Term Limits Summit taking place in Naimey, Niger Republic, where I am a participant. So far, he has exuded brilliance, keenness of mind, understanding of the issues and their corollaries.

Really, I have always wondered why he is tepid about national issues unlike some past leaders of the country; so I asked him the reason for his taciturnity.

He said:

‘’Let me thank you for asking me that question. That means you want to hear my voice, otherwise you would not have asked why I have been a bit silent on national issues.

‘’I may not be 100 percent right. I believe a former president has to be careful in commenting on national issues; otherwise you become a nuisance to society. Because having being the president of the country for a period of time, there is a number of information available to you; you do not always expect a sitting president to do things exactly the way you do, and sometimes, when you try to comment on national issues, of course, there are people that will defend the president, sometimes, they leave the subject matter and begin to castigate some aspects of your administration they observed weaknesses in, in order to divert the attention of the general public from the issue.
‘’Yes, former presidents should make comments from time to time on our national issues, but it should be issues that are quite critical; issues you think, you will not be able to reach out to the president; if you reach the president and have conversations with him, you do not need to go to the media and discuss the issues otherwise you will create more problems in your country. In Nigeria, we have this platform; the council of state that former presidents belong to, it could be a good platform to discuss issues.
‘’I do not advise that a former president should be active in political commentary; it will create more problems than solving the problem.’’

Also, I had asked him if he regretted conceding to President Buhari. My interrogation was to test for little annoyances. But it turned out negative. He appeared assured in the decision he made to accept defeat.

READ MORE: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/10/10/why-i-dont-comment-on-national-issues-president-jonathan-tells-fredrick-nwabufo/

Presido...better days ahead

ok

Okay

The humility was so exhuming they held hands while taking the picture...

May God give me Jonathan's humility in all his power.

Wow

I miss you Mr President

Y do I have the feeling that this man is my grandfather?....

I mean judging from his level of humility, free hearthedness, composure ND perception about life.....

I was an irrepressible critic of Jonathan..I was not arrested, detained or had minatory messages sent to me by his supporters or agents.I was not afraid to speak up or ”wail”.

Other critics, including those who called for protests or revolution during his administration were not hounded & dispatched to court for trial on farcical charges of treason.I enjoyed freedom.

However, under President Buhari, I cannot exercise my rights to freedom of expression, thought and opinion without the nagging fear of arrest, and the paranoia of secret service agents waiting for me at the airport for being a loud mouth or for wearing a banned T-shirt since the DSS is now a fashion police.

Although President Jonathan had his challenges and failings; he is an exceptional gentleman & democrat.He brooked opposition & harboured no political prisoner.

Difference between a democrat and dictator.

Wow.


200 likes for this man, called Good luck Jonathan.



10 shares for buhari, APC,

Some fools will still come here to abuse GEJ while they spend the remaining of their lives in abject poverty under the tyrant terrorist in power.

GEJ is a gentleman.

I keep saying it...if we want to progress after 2023 then we must give Osinbajo the presidency not Tinubu. And VP must go to a progressive northerner not elrufai

This man keeps loving his fellow human being unlike others.
The pics above...he holds the reporters hands whom he didnt know.

I see myself up there in no distant time

Nigerians never deserved to have Jonathan as their president .

Buhari is a more beffitting leader of these savages called Nigerians