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Till my last breath, I’ll make peace – Jonathan *I almost rejected VP offer
For Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s President – 2010-2015 – making peace – an attribute which he demonstrated by becoming the first Nigerian at that level to be voted out of power – will remain his major life’s pursuit on earth till his last breath.
The former Governor of Bayelsa State and later Vice President, had made history and gained national and international acclaim when he saved a troubled Nigeria from anxiety by throwing in the towel to acknowledge defeat at the 2015 presidential election that pitted him against Muhammadu Buhari, President – 2015-2023.
He pledged to continue do more by devoting his life to the promotion of peace and service to humanity in the country and across the globe, before the gathering on Sunday in Abuja at a reception organised by the “Friends of Dr Goodluck Jonathan” on his receiving the 2025 prestigious Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award in Seoul, South Korea.
The former President, who said stressed that it had always been his desire to impact lives and promote peace in his space, added: “I wouldn’t say much, but only to thank you and to reassure you that my commitment to peace will continue. I will continue to do my little best until the last day I live on earth. I believe that’s the only way I can serve God, by serving man.”
Jonathan said that though he suffered while growing up as a child because of his humble background, he always felt sad seeing people suffering or seeing a country going through crisis.
The former governor of Bayelsa added that it was his desire to see that no Nigerian suffer any lack, even though it was not so easy or possible for any president to achieve that.
“That has been my fear, and that was why I was very reluctant when I was approached to come to the centre, to be a Vice President. I said, look, Bayelsa is a small state. Let me see what I can do with this small state, whether I can make significant changes, but today here am I.”
Jonathan, while appreciating the organisers of the Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award for counting him worthy, saying, he never expected it, also expressed delight at the reception for the great honour, even though he initially declined it.
“I also appreciate all those who attended this reception. I have listened to the comments from all of you, and I can only say thank you for those good words. They are quite encouraging,” he said.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), in 2023, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said that Nigeria would continue to celebrate Jonathan for the sacrifices he had made to make the country peaceful, added that everybody who knew what the former President represented and the hope he had brought to Nigeria’s democracy, would not fail to celebrate him.
His words: “There is no special day to celebrate this award other than today, Easter Day, which is a day of sacrifice. We will continue to celebrate you for the sacrifice you made for this country to be at peace. You have put in a lot of effort to ensure there is peace in Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole.”
Azibaola Robert, Managing Director of Kakatar Group, who initiated the occasion as the Chief Host, explained that the friends of the former President found it worthy to celebrate him for the global recognition, describing him as someone who has a strong passion for peace.
Stressing that the event was an appreciation of the pattern of life that Jonathan had lived and for the impact he had shown as a politician and a statesman, he said Jonathan, as a brother, had created a big character that is very hard to step in for because every day there is a new lesson to gain from his presence, describing him as a God-sent not only to his Bayelsa people but to Nigeria and the rest of the world.
Hassan Tukur, a former Principal Private Secretary to the former President, while speaking glowingly about him, while describing the Award as well-deserved, said Jonathan had demonstrated his love for peace during the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Guinea-Bissau and many other countries across the globe during and after his tenure as president of Nigeria.
He recalled how Jonathan led ECOWAS, AU and UN to restore peace in Côte d’Ivoire in the aftermath of the crisis that followed the disputed 2010 presidential runoff election between former President, Laurent Gbagbo and his former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara.
Hear him: “Without President Jonathan’s intervention, the peace wouldn’t have been possible. He saved lives, he saved people, and he saved the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. Today, the country is one of the most peaceful countries in this sub-region.
“There was also a crisis in Mali when Jonathan was in office. He was the only President that took his plane and went to Mali in the middle of a crisis, sitting down there for 12 hours negotiating with all the various interested parties. Up to date, the Malians are grateful that he was the only sitting president who visited their country in the height of their crisis and addressed their problems.”
Also citing how the former President saved Kenya from going to war that would have claimed many lives in that country, Tukur said that even after leaving office, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation had continued working hard to promote peace in the region.
“This honour is not only to former president Jonathan and his family but to Nigerians and the country. He is a humanist. He is a man of peace. He is a man of integrity. And he is a man of foresight,” he said.
Former Minister of Information Labaran Maku described Jonathan as a patriot and transformer, in which the country would continue to cherish his legacy and good examples.
“All Nigerians are delighted in this award because Mr President, for all his days in power, both as governor of Bayelsa State and president of Nigeria, upheld the ethics of peace and national transformation.
“It is not easy to find in our clan, around this continent, a leader that will say the presidency of a nation is not worth the blood of the citizen.
“That statement was epochal, and it stood him up. In 2015, he made a national sacrifice; he refused the fight. He handed back government, the first time in Nigeria that someone would lose an election and refuse to go to court.
“May the significance of this event, its impact on our nation, and our search for peace in all communities in Nigeria yield fruits with this recognition from faraway South Korea,” he said.
Some of the dignitaries at the events included Dame Patience Jonathan; King Amalate Turner, the paramount ruler of the Oloibiri Kingdom in Bayelsa State; and Olori Opeoluwa Ogunwusi, wife of the Oni of Ife, who conducted the toast.
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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