Why I Don’t Want Nigeria To Break Up —Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan this afternoon told journalists that he would not support the break-up of Nigeria. He also revealed that he has been engaged, alongside with traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other prominent people of Ijaw extraction in moves to find solutions to the crisis that has engulfed the Niger Delta.

Jonathan who spoke shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja said: “It’s not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country. Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil.”

It was at this point that the former president rolled out his logic:

“So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria but nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have… If we fragmentise this country into small components, we will be forgotten  by the world.

“That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved.”

Asked by reporteers the exact reason he visited the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said he visited to brief the President about his engagements outside Nigeria. He said such visit was part of the tradition which has existed between former presidents and incumbent ones. He told the reporters:

“You asked why I came  to see the President today, one key thing is that having been a head of a government, a former president you become a state property.That’s the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagement, that has to do with public addresses and some international assignment becomes a national assignment, you brief the President.

“Even when I was here the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I come in the night that’s why you don’t see me. I came to brief the President about some of my engagements. As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia. I came to brief the President about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition.”

“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.”

One issue President Jonathan however refused to talk about was Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade. His reason was that there were so many cases in court and that commenting on them would be sub judice. He however assured Nigerians that he would comment at the appropriate tie. He said: “I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.”