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I didn’t want Nigeria in flames, destroyed under me – Jonathan
Some hard decisions taken during his tenure, including non-implementation of the 2014 National Conference report, was to prevent Nigeria from going up in flames, Goodluck Jonathan, former Nigerian President, said on Sunday, in Lagos.
Jonathan, who failed to secure a second tenure in office after completing the tenure of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, whom he served for about three years as Vice President, after his death in 2010, and went ahead to win the 2011 election on his own terms, had convoked the confab where some key decisions on the Nigerian question were taken.
But the recommendations of the meet, which some major stakeholders, particularly the opposition members of the now ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), shunned, were not implemented by the former President despite the huge cost of the parley to the nation.
Against the backdrop of criticisms, Jonathan, pushed back on Sunday, while visiting the home of Ayo Adebanjo, the late Leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, who died in Lagos on February 14, where he went to pay a condolence visit.
The former President, who arrived the Lekki home of the former Yoruba leader, hours befor Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President said the political situation in Nigeria at the time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Despite the rejection of the confab by prominent Yoruba leaders, with Bola Tinubu, then former Governor of Lagos and now President of Nigeria, the likes of Adebanjo, where quite frontal in the entire event, a point the former President noted, as quite invaluable.
Jonathan, who acknowledged that many Nigerians had kept asking why he did not implement the recommendations of the conference without knowing that there was a lot of political turbulence in the country at that period, citing how a key member of the legislature, who was in his party, mobilised against him and moved to another party.
“Some persons were ready to bring the 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. The recommendations came from credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced. We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”
Accompanied by Ernest Bai Koroma, former Sierra Leone, former Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political stalwarts, Jonathan who arrived at Adebanjo’s Lekki residence at 1.57pm, was received by the children of the late elder stateman led by Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, current leader of the group and other members, the former President, added about the late Afenifere leader: “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. He meant the best for this country.”
Atiku, who arrived about 3 p.m, and was equally received by the scions of the late elder stateman and Afenifere leaders was no less enthused by Adebanjo’s legacy, praising his contributions to national development.
Accompanied by some PDP chieftains, including Dele Momodu and Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate for Lagos State, 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,” Atiku said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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