Politics
How We Stopped Jonathan From Jailing Buhari, Atiku, APC Leaders — Abdulsalami Abubakar
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday revealed how he and others in the National Peace Committee (NPC) prevailed on former President Goodluck Jonathan not to arrest and jail some prominent Nigerians including President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for treasonable felony in 2015.
Abubakar, who chairs the NCP, a high level, multi-stakeholder pressure group, said their intervention which was couched in the national interest, saved key members of the then opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), from prosecution for their alleged crimes against the Nigerian state.
The revelations came at the unveiling of a report tagged: “2015 General Elections: The Untold Story”, published by National Peace Committee and The Kukah Centre.
The presentation of the book came on the heels of a meeting convened by the NPC to rub minds with critical stakeholders in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
The meeting had in attendance the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mamood Yakubu, heads of security agencies, and representatives of the 91 political parties in the country.
In the report, which is coming barely three and half years after the historic 2015 elections, the NCP disclosed how, at a meeting, President Jonathan cited “national interest” as the reason he stopped his earlier decision to press home charges of treason against the then APC presidential candidate, Buhari, and other leaders of the party, over threats to form a parallel government if they didn’t win the election.
According to the 51-page document, Jonathan jettisoned the plan “in the interest of peace and national stability.”
“A meeting with Jonathan was held at the Aso Rock Villa in the afternoon of Wednesday, March 25, 2015. At the meeting, he (Jonathan) raised some issues concerning the state of the nation, the threat of violence by the opposition (APC then) based on allegations that he (Jonathan) and his party were planning to rig the elections.
“He (Jonathan) noted that he took very seriously the threat by leading members of the opposition to form a parallel government in the event that they didn’t win the elections, but that he chose not to react to such apparent treasonable acts in the interest of peace,” the report read in parts.
The NCP also disclosed that contrary to the popular narrative in the media, its members did not pressurise Jonathan to concede defeat to Buhari and the APC, but that the then incumbent took the action voluntarily as an act of statesmanship.
The report said that while the NCP had peace as its primary goal and had consistently counselled all parties to accept the outcome of the elections, Jonathan’s historic call to Buhari conceding defeat took everyone unawares.
“The committee, in the evening of March 31, 2015, requested audience with President Jonathan at the Villa. As it awaited confirmation for the meeting with the President (Jonathan) the Committee Chairman, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, (GCFR) also put a call through to General Buhari who informed him that President Jonathan had, only minutes earlier, called to concede the elections.
“He particularly asked the committee to please convey his good wishes to President Jonathan for his great act of statesmanship.
“Shortly after that, members of the committee, who were greatly relieved, headed to the Villa where they met privately with President Jonathan and thanked him for his great courage.
“At this point, the Buhari Campaign team were yet to address the press on the historic development and, as such, many Nigerians got the news of the concession from General Abubakar’s brief media chat with State House Correspondents which, perhaps, helped create the wrong, but widespread impression that the committee sat with President Jonathan at the Villa as the results came in and had directly prevailed on him to concede,” the report said.
The unveiling of the report was heralded by a closed-door session by members of the NCP, including Abubakar; Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah; former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe; Publisher of the Vanguard, Chief Sam Amuka, amongst others.
They were joined at the executive session by the Chairman of INEC, Yakubu and Brig.-Gen. Abiidun Lagbaja who represented Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff.
Gen. Abubakar, who addressed journalists after the session, said the essence of the meeting was not only to get briefings from the INEC and security heads, but also to listen to complaints of political parties and contribute appropriately towards a peaceful election.
He sued for peace among political actors across the political parties, warning that the polity was already getting charged five months to the 2019 elections.
Abubakar charged politicians to play by the rules of the game and avoid actions that could trigger violence in the build up to the elections.
“As you are all aware, we are approaching 2019 general elections and already, you are very much aware of how politics has been heated as a result of which we decided to stop at nothing to ensure that there’s peace in the country and that the politicians play by the rule of the game and also that security agencies and the INEC play their roles accordingly.
“This morning (yesterday), we have interacted with INEC chairman and his staff, and also we have security agencies here who have one role or the other to perform in these elections.
“As you are very much aware, if there’s no peace in any country, there would be no country at all. So this is the essence of this meeting; to ensure that we are on the same wavelength, to ensure that there’s peace in our country,” the former military ruler said.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Because of tribalism and Islamic homosexuals religion you fools choose evil rather than good
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Lys
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 4:44 pm
What about that
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 1:38 pm
No wonder your wristwatch is turned upsidedown, just like your brain sir.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 12:17 pm
The Brutus of Nigeria. Saraki is seeing hunger on the faces of the masses unfortunately your white hair face is only seeing when Jonathan was trying to jail Buhari, Atiku and APC leaders. Atiku wants to restructure this country. Danjuma wants herdsmen to stop killings of innocent Nigerians. You are not perturbed that Boko Haram has fixed Oct., 2018 to kill Leah Sharibu, because she refused to be a Muslim. While you have chosen not to speak to Buhari in all of these evils, remember that there is The Lion of Judah, The I AM THAT I AM, The Most High God. Campaign for Buhari but leave Jonathan the father of mordern Democracy alone.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Ok
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 11:55 am
Rubbish
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 11:09 am
Nigeria history will forever be kind to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 10:37 am
You stopped Jonathan, what have YOU said to PMB
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 9:37 am
REJOICE FOR YOUR EFFORTS, SEE WHERE WE ARE NOW, REGIONAL POLITICIAN, CAN BUHARI LISTEN YOU AS JONATHAN DID?
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 9:17 am
Nigeria must disintegrate very very soon just wait and see
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 9:17 am
How long shall this Fulani terrorist government last with their agent of terror apc Buhari lifeless president of Fulani headsmen terrorist group abusalam?
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 9:01 am
Ok na
No comments
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:28 am
We must restored biafra and nothing else any body can do about it
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 12:43 pm
You can’t restore what never was. It’ll be more accurate to say you want to create it.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:27 am
And cantdto Buhari from jailing other nor ask him to go after his terrorist group? Well done sir. We appreciate u so much
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:20 am
So u are the cause of our problems
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:16 am
Hahahaha
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:13 am
U stopped him even when u know that the terrorist called Buhari actually committed a treasonable offense? Don’t worry, buhari is bringing u guys another recession, just wait!
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Lol you heard abi? That another one is on the way.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 1:30 pm
My brother the recession will not affect them
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:06 am
So u supported him at the first time, why was he trying to jail them for, for not supporting is tyrant or what?
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 8:05 am
now look at were you put Nigeria’s, infact you put Nigeria’s in this death trap, but the only solution to this 2019 election, for the interest of piece, remove INEC chairman, infact sack all the INEC executive they are all working for APC..
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 11:56 am
And u are also PDP agent if am right?
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Elhamsait Khan this is not the place to prove your people are stupid relax Oga, Buhari’s campaign has not started. When it does you can dance and manifest as you like. Biko.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Supported
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:58 am
This old man go and sit down..
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:56 am
Who say no
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:54 am
Lol zoo now cry
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:53 am
Really???
Anonymous
September 26, 2018 at 7:45 am
And to daY what did You gain from stopping Jonathan from Jailing terrorist group AKA Buhari and company?