In his new book, which is being launched now in Abuja, former president Goodluck Jonathan has explained the rational that made him make the now famous phone call in which he conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari even before the final results of the 2015 elections was announced.
“When I say severally that ‘my political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian’, I really meant it. This phrase instinctively became a creed and my philosophy on power. It became a principle embedded in my core from when I became Governor of Bayelsa State in 2005 and more evidently during my Bayelsa gubernatorial campaign between 2006 and 2007. It has remained with me and has been the bedrock of my political career and the foundation of the celebrated ‘phone call’ to my opponent in the 2015 general elections” Jonathan wrote his book.
Jonathan, in his book, also said that the PDP governors who decamped to the PDP ahead of the 2015 elections were driven by ‘blind ambition.’
Ahead of the 2015 elections, Jonathan said that there were governors who were rounding off their second term and were ‘blinded by ambition.’
“Some Governors wanted to be Vice President whilst others strived to be President. If I contested, none could realize his ambition. This muffled implosion would fully manifest in the build up to 2015, with each ship-jumper calculating how much he or she would take from the PDP or the most opportune moment to cause maximum damage and based on that, plot their exit.”
“Their opposition to my re-election was principally driven by personal ambition. They therefore played up the issue of where I come from and the faith I profess to fuel their burning ambitions. My performance mattered quite little, if it mattered at all” Jonathan wrote in his book, which is expected to create a lot of talking appoints ahead of the 2019 elections.
There was a mild drama when Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman arrived Transcorp Hilton, Abuja for the book launch.
The arrival of Oshiomhole in company of former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio elicited mixed feelings among supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who crowded venue of the event as most of them showed excitement with shouts of Oshiomhole! Osho Baba!! while some were visibly amazed with his presence.
Some of them were seen in groups wondering how Oshiomhole will see eyeball to eyeball and sit side by side with his known political enemies particularly Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara, Governor Samuel, Atiku Abubakar whom he has been castigating.
But Oshiomhole was given a warm welcome and exchanged pleasantries with his perceived political enemies at the high table.
Also, the crowd that gathered in front of Congress Hall of Transcorp was thrown into wild jubilation following the arrival of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the book launch.
Obasanjo who arrived two hours into the event was given a rousing welcome with the thunderous shouts of Baba! Baba!, Obj! Obj! while he acknowledged the cheers with hilarious laugh and waving.
Meanwhile, John Mahama, former President of Ghana has hailed Jonathan for his role in fostering unity, peace, progress and strengthening democratic rule in Africa.
Mahama who spoke at the launching of the book: ‘My Transition Hours’ written by Jonathan said, “Goodluck Jonathan is a good man. When the history of democracy in Africa is written his name will be etched in gold”.
