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Jonathan symbol of democracy in Africa – Carter

Former United States President Jimmy Carter has poured encomiums on Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The 39th US President described Jonathan as a symbol of democracy on the African continent.

He made the remark while receiving Jonathan at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum located at the Carter Center in Atlanta.

They were said to have held a fruitful meeting at the Carter Center where they held a wide-ranging discussion on global issues and shared views on how to promote peace, democracy and good governance in Africa and the world.

Speaking on Jonathan’s time in office, Carter said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is the symbol of democracy in action. You set an example that other African leaders should follow.”

The former American President also praised Jonathan for organizing a transparent election and easily conceding defeat and handing over to the opposition.

By so doing, he said that Jonathan showed his deep democratic commitment.

Responding, Jonathan said that his actions while in office were informed by his belief in a peaceful, transparent and people-oriented governance, adding that Africa can only move forward through democracy and good governance.

He commended President Carter for the exemplary manner he had in his post-presidential life, adding that he was inspired by Carter’s commitment to causes that advance the path of humanity.

Jonathan and Carter share a common experience as one term Presidents and have both retired involuntarily from politics while rededicating their lives towards making the world a better place.

They both agreed that peaceful and stable government increase foreign direct investment and sustainable development.

The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter and guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.

It seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

Jonathan has been visiting many strategic pro-democracy institutions where he had been invited to share his experience in office as a promoter of democracy and advocate of good governance in Africa.

He had so far been hosted by the Presidential Precinct in Virginia, John Kennedy School of Government, King Center as well as the Carter Center.

While visiting the Presidential Precinct in Charlottesville Virginia, last week Jonathan assured the international community that African leaders were displaying more commitment to democracy and good governance, as a means of engendering sustainable development an improving the lives of the people.

He is scheduled to speak a long side with Former US Secretary of State Johnnie Carson about elections, peace and democracy at the National Democratic Institute, and Howard University in Washington DC.

November 19, 2015
Diezani: Jonathan wasn’t my lover

Embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied having any intimate relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking in an interview published by The Boss magazine in London, where she is battling with cancer ,the former minister described the allegation as totally untrue.

She said it was intended to tarnish her reputation as a successful and happily married woman.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who looks emaciated in the photographs accompanying the interview, also denied dating any of the young businessmen in the oil and gas sector.

The Jonathans, she said, had been family friends long before the ex-president came into office.

She said her mother, Beatrice Agama, has always played the role of a godmother in the Niger Delta and is loved by all militants.

Asked about the relationship between her and Chris Aire, Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore, Tonye Cole, Dapo Abiodun, Wale Tinubu, Igho Sanomi and others, she replied: “I vehemently deny any intimacy or liaison with any of these gentlemen.”

She explained that some of these men were unknown to her until she became minister.

According to her, she is happily married and would not do anything to jeopardise her marriage or smear herself in the eyes of her husband, children and family.

Responding to rumours that her sister had a child for Jonathan, the former minister wondered how anyone could fabricate such tales saying, “That is totally untrue as I don’t have any such sister or relative!”

On her relationship with former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Madueke described it as cordial, saying she accorded the former the respect she should give the wife of her boss.

On the allegation of financial impropriety leveled at her, especially the alleged disappearance of $20billion, Alison Madueke described it as a lie intended to cast aspersions on her person.

She said: “How can $20billion disappear just like that? Where did it disappear to? Is it possible that such an amount would not be traceable?

“This is more painful coming from someone I considered a good friend, who should appreciate the gravity of such allegation.

“I challenge anyone to come forward with facts showing that I stole government or public money. I’ve never stolen Nigeria’s money.

On allegations that she owns choice properties everywhere in choice capitals of the world, she responded: “It is so sad that anyone could say such about me.

“Let me say something to you, I live with my husband in the same house we have lived since we married in 1999. Ask anyone who knows us.

“Our house in Abuja was bought in 2007 by my husband and as an architect and lover of interior décor, I did it up to our own taste.

“Anyone who tells you I have houses anywhere should feel free to publish them.

“That was how they said I bought an expensive property in Vienna. I went to court and I won the case. I never saw the house before except in picture.

“The house I stay in London is rented. As a woman, I love to look good. Some of my dresses and jewelleries are often dumped on me by those I buy from and I pay them when I can.”

November 15, 2015
Niger Delta suffered under Jonathan, says Duke-Abiola

Akalabari chief, Queen Akabosa Duke-Abiola, has reflectd on the Jonathan administration, saying that the former President has no legacy in the Niger Delta region.

She described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity, who means well for the country.

The activist lamented that her presidential ambition was truncated in favour of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that it smacked of cheating.

She said: “I tried to contest for the Presidency and I was cheated by Jonathan. So, we’re in court. My ambition was truncated. I was asked not to aspire. I was not even given the right to aspire after paying for nomination form. Jonathan insisted only one nomination form was to be printed and for himself alone.”

Duke -Abiola, the wife of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, said she was vindicated by the arrest of former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke, in London. She maintained that the former minister should properly account for her tenure.

“I have been vindicated. For the African continent, it is a very sad day that the seventth OPEC president should be humiliated to this level. When you heard that billions were stolen, what plan do they have for the money? Do they want to start the fourth world war?” she said, adding that the former President Goodluck Jonathan was responsible for all the stolen funds.

“As a Niger Deltan, I feel that Jonathan caused the entire problem. He was president and did not lift up his people. If you go to Niger Delta, there is no borehole. Only few months ago did his mom thank the JTF for making her a borehole in Otuoke,” Duke-Abiola added.

In her view, justifce should prevail in the case of the former petroleum minister.

“Under the rule of law, we call for fair trial, yet the will of justice should grind. The blind justice should bring down the sword of Domocles. In other words, the stolen funds, and it should quickly be brought back to develop the Niger Delta,” she said.

Lamenting that the Niger Delta suffered under the Jonathan administration, she said: “We ask why Niger Delta became more impoverished under Jonathan. No bridges, no water, no light, not even simple education for people to have confidence to aspire to greatness.”

Duke-Abiola said the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua should be credited with the developments in Niger Delta.

She stressed: “We feel cheated as a region. Ijaw people fought to have their own State – Bayelsa, we called it the glory land. But now, people don’t respect Jonathan or Madueke.

“People in Niger Delta are poor. You smell petrol in your fish. When you boil corn, the pot is full of petrol. When women have babies, sometimes, the umbilical cord is smelling like petrol.

“The United Nations found out in a 2011 study that oil pollution in the Ogoniland region of the Niger Delta is so severe and it would take decades to clean up.”

Duke-Abiola said government should not abandon the case involving Madueke.

She queried:“Why is it that international bodies are the ones bringing incontrovertible evidence, bank accounts, ledgers, secret accounts before us?”

The activist, who is the Chairperson for Akasoba Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ACPCR), spoke on her peace mission and other philanthropic activities in the region.

She said: “I am affecting lives though the peace and conflict resolution. I meet with world leaders, the super powers, and I talk to them about the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Duke-Abiola urgedNigerians to support President Buhari in his fight against corruption.

She added: “We should all do our best to support Gen. Buhari. He has a lot of integrity.”

November 13, 2015
Dokpesi’s apology remains his personal opinion – Metuh

National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, said the apology credited to the party’s National Conference Committee Chairman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, remained his personal opinion.

Metuh made this remark when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said Dokpesi’s statement did not in any way represent official position of the PDP, as he was not a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

Metuh said Dokpesi could only speak in his personal capacity adding that his opinion remains personal and did not represent that of the party

On PDP’s choice to field former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential race, Metuh said the decision was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

He added that the decision was also approved by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), and the party’s National Caucus.

“In addition, the Constitution of the party allows a sitting president the chance to exercise his personal right to run for a second term if he so desires.’’

On whether the party regretted its action, Metuh said: “how can you regret a decision taken when everyone was there, the NWC, NEC and the national caucus?

“What are we talking about? Everybody was conscious of the decision; nobody was coerced into supporting the position.”

He, however, said it was not the time for buck-passing or blame-game but time to collectively reposition the party.

“We are repositioning our party. What we should do is to join hands to reposition PDP based on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s report to reclaim the party’s lost glory. This is what is expected of us all at this time’’, Metuh said.

NAN recalls that Dokpesi had on Tuesday on behalf of the PDP apologised for mistakes it may have made during its 16 years rule in the country.

Dokpesi admitted that the party might not have met all the expectations of Nigerians while it was in power and said: “on behalf of PDP, I tender our apologies.’’

Dokpesi admitted that the party deviated from the dream of its founding fathers, adding that members operated without recourse to the rule of law.

He added that the party, in 2010 and 2011, made the first fundamental mistake for not allowing the North to complete its term.

He noted that special recommendations were made to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan to complete it.

November 11, 2015
PDP erred by fielding Jonathan in polls – Dokpesi

Fielding the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections was a costly mistake by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of the party’s national conference organising committee, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has said.

Dokpes, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja, Tuesday, said the imposition of Jonathan by the PDP might have been responsible for the party’s loss of the presidency in the last general election.

He said the zoning formula put in place by the party’s founding fathers was jettisoned by its leadership at the time.

According to him, the PDP made the first mistake when it failed to retain the party’s 2011 presidential ticket in the North after the death of former President Umaru Yar ‘Adua.

The second mistake, he said, was making Jonathan the sole presidential candidate of the party in the 2015 general election, adding that the action caused disaffection among party chieftains from the North.

Dokpesi apologised to all party chieftains who felt offended by the action and extended the apology to the Nigerian voters who were denied the freedom of choice by the PDP.

He said having retained power for 16 years at a stretch, it was normal for a party to make mistakes, adding that the party was in the process of repositioning ahead of the 2019 general election.

The PDP committee chairman said Nigerians should forgive the party for the many mistakes it made while in power, assuring that the party was restructuring to enable the youths play active role in the future.

He identified lack of internal democracy in most of its nomination processes, adding “there was impunity, imposition of candidates, breach of the zoning arrangement and lack of a level playing field for members.”

“Make no mistakes, the PDP is aware that there were errors made along the way. We admit that at certain times in our past, mistakes have been made.

“We did not meet the expectations of Nigerians. We tender our apology. But the past is exactly what it is. We call on all party faithful, supporters and sympathisers to partner with us going forward.”

November 10, 2015
Jonathan to mediate in Zanzibar poll

The Commonwealth has appointed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the resolution of the political stalemate in Zanzibar.

His appointment as the Commonwealth special representative is seen as an affirmation of his towering status as the moral face of democracy and transparent polling in Africa.

The appointment was conveyed to him last week in a letter by the Commonwealth Secretary- General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma.

It followed his leadership of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to last month’s Tanzania general election.

After the October 25 poll, which produced John Magufuli as the president, the Jonathan-led COG and other international observers endorsed the polling processes as credible.

Jonathan is drafted to quell the tension brewing in Zanzibar, following the nullification of the presidential election results by the electoral body, over alleged irregularities.

International observers disputed the decision on the grounds that the voting and counting were held in a peaceful atmosphere.

In the letter, which Sharma signed, he wrote: “As you are aware, the Zanzibar electoral situation remains unsolved, although recent reports indicating willingness by the main parties to engage in talking are encouraging.

“In view of the Commonwealth’s historical role as the moral generator of the Muafaka Accords, it is important that we remain engaged to encourage all concerned to resolve the situation in a peaceful and sustainable manner.

“I’m, therefore, delighted and honoured that you have agreed to be my special representative in the coming weeks, to remain in contact with key political leaders and encourage them towards an expeditious resolution of the impasse.

“I am certain that your interest can play a role in building political bridges.”

He hailed Jonathan for his leadership of the COG, saying he brought his experience to bear on the mission.

Sharma said: “I am writing to thank you once again for rendering the Commonwealth service through your generous commitment of time and your leadership of the Commonwealth Observer Group to last week’s elections in Tanzania. This has proved to be a challenging mission. Your experience and guidance have been of immeasurable value.”

Jonathan, according to sources, has set about the mission by engaging stakeholders in the disputed election.

It was learnt that talks will be held in the coming weeks under Jonathan’s chairmanship, who is expected to bring the parties together to find a solution.

November 10, 2015
Jonathan to mediate in Zanzibar poll stalemate

The Commonwealth has appointed former President Goodluck Jonathan to lead the charge for the resolution of the political stalemate in the semi-independent island of Zanzibar.

Jonathan’s new appointment as Commonwealth Special representative is seen as an affirmation of the former President’s towering status as the moral face of democracy and transparent polling in Africa.

The new appointment was conveyed to Jonathan last week in a letter sent to him by the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma.

The appointment followed his highly acclaimed leadership of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to last month’s Tanzania general election.

After the October 25 general election which produced John Magufuli as the new President of Tanzania, the Jonathan-led COG and other international observers had endorsed the polling processes as credible.

Jonathan has now been drafted in to quell the tension brewing on the island of Zanzibar, following the nullification of the presidential election results by the local electoral body, citing irregularities.

International observers have continued to dispute the decision, on the grounds that both the voting and counting processes were held in an atmosphere of peace.

In the letter which Sharma personally signed, the Secretary-General wrote: “As you are aware, the Zanzibar electoral situation remains unsolved, although recent reports indicating willingness by the main political parties to engage in talking is encouraging.

“In view of the Commonwealth’s historical role as the moral generator of the Muafaka Accords, it is important that we remain engaged to continue to encourage all concerned to resolve the situation in a peaceful and sustainable manner.

“I am therefore delighted and honoured that you have kindly agreed to be my Special Representative over the coming weeks, in order to remain in contact with key political leaders and to encourage them towards an expeditious resolution of the impasse.”

November 9, 2015
Jonathan’s camp kicks over 2019 PDP zoning

Ahead of its stakeholders’ conference on Thursday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has split into six groups. They are battling for the control of the party machinery.

There is also anger in the party over the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket in 2019 to the North.

The zoning has foreclosed the return of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2019.

Pro-Jonathan elements in the party are angry that the National Working Committee(NWC) announced the zoning to enable most of its members to retain their posts in the March 2016 National Convention.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the loss of the general elections to the All Progressives Party(APC) led to the emergence of six groups in the party.

Each of the six groups is battling to secure the control of the NWC under the guise of reforming the party.

The six groups are: Ex-PDP governors Forum; sitting PDP governors; ex-PDP Ministers Forum/ Jonathan group; the NWC; Reformists comprising Ken Nnamani, Ahmed Makarfi, Ibrahim Mantu, Iyorchia Ayu and others; and Northern elements, including many retired military chieftains, seeking dissolution of the NWC.

It was learnt that in spite of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu panel on reconciliation, party chiefs remain divided.

Many leaders of the party are insisting on the sack of the NWC to reform the party but members of the organ are clinging to the last straws to remain in office till next year.

It was gathered that the agitation for a conference to rebrand and refocus PDP was floated by the NWC to calm frayed nerves.

It was learnt that the conference was initially slated for three days but the NWC scaled it down to two days.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “All is still not well in the PDP since we lost the election.

“Most of our leaders and members believe we need to reform the party beginning with the dissolution of the NWC. But members of the NWC are locked in a game of survival. They are also using a divide and rule method to remain in office till.

“Even some NWC members are already joining groups in the party in order to retain their seats at the next National Convention in March 2016.

A former minister gave insights into the politics in the party and why the division might take a long time to resolve.

The source added: “Some former PDP governors and NWC members are working in tandem to hijack the PDP structure in order to call the shots ahead of 2019.

“Since these governors have the financial war chest to finance the cash-strapped party, some NWC members are bowing to their instructions.

“Some former ministers and allies of Jonathan are not happy that the same NWC which accounted for the defeat of the party at the poll in April is still in place. They are demanding surgical reforms.

“These ex-ministers and northern elements are asking that the acting National Chairman (Uche Secondus) should step aside for a candidate from the North-East since the post was conceded to the zone. The last occupant was ex-Governor Ahmed Muazu from Bauchi in the North-East.”

Another force in the party is angry with the NWC over the “hasty manner” in which it zoned the party’s presidential ticket to the North in 2019.

A member of the National Executive Committee of PDP said: “We have just realised that the zoning was hastily done in order to edge out ex-President Jonathan from the race in 2019. The NWC has foreclosed Jonathan’s chances. This development has caused much anger in the party. The pro-Jonathan elements are unhappy with the NWC for allegedly backstabbing the former President.

“In fact, the NWC does not consult Jonathan regularly again on the direction of the party. Instead, the organ bows to the dictates of some serving and former governors. So, how do you reconcile in this circumstance?

“Jonathan at the weekend left for Germany and it is doubtful if he will attend the Thursday conference.”

There were indications that some leaders of the party are pushing for genuine reforms in the party.

November 9, 2015
Jonathan at Aso Villa

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met briefly with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting, which lasted for about ten minutes, was held at the new Banquet Hall.

President Buhari accompanied Jonathan to his waiting vehicle at the end of the meeting.

None of them spoke to reporters before and after the meeting.

There was also no official statement on the visit, but sources close to the ex-President said he went to brief President Buhari on the outcome of his election monitoring assignment for the African Union (AU) in Tanzania, last month.

November 3, 2015
Jonathan meets Buhari at Aso Rock

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met briefly with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The closed door meeting, which lasted for about 10minutes, was held at the new Banquet Hall.

President Buhari accompanied Jonathan to his waiting vehicle at the end of the meeting.

The ex-president didn’t speak with journalists during the duration of his visit.

No official statement has been issued concerning the visit at the time of filing this report.

November 2, 2015