Nigerians probably have to come to terms with the fact that not every ex-federal government official who leaves the country after their tenure is trying to escape a form of persecution. In most cases, some of them may simply travel for affairs unrelated to the sociopolitical matters of the country that they once governed. And Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s response to the rumours that he is on a temporary self-exile in Cote d’Ivoire is set to establish that.
Nigeria’s most recent ‘former president’ who claims he is actually on a global tour and promoting his proposed foundation, was purported to be visiting various countries in order to ascertain the best place to relocate to (aka “hide”), should the ongoing corruption investigation against his former colleagues by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) eventually implicate him. The EFCC, for the most part, have specifically stated that Jonathan is not [yet] a target of theirs.
In reality, certain individuals formerly under the employ of the Nigerian government, such as Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo and the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, became famous for using tactics similar to which Jonathan is being accused of. Therefore, the exile claims might embody a hint of truth, or they might just be as ludicrous as Jonathan dismisses them to be, or perhaps a little bit of both. Time will tell.
Whatever the case, here are some of the interesting points that stood out in the exchange between the ‘sources’ of the exile claims, Jonathan, and his advocates.
Claim: “President Goodluck Jonathan may have gone into temporary self-exile in Cote d’Ivoire, following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may arrest him on his arrival in Nigeria from his overseas tour on allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars in the five years during which he was Head of State.” – Source, The Eagle Online.
Goodluck Jonathan: “I am not in exile; it is quite unfortunate that anybody is insinuating that I am in exile.” – Source, Vanguard Newspaper.
Team Jonathan: “The president has no reason to go into exile. He has not committed any offense. Please ignore the report about his exile. He will certainly come back to the country when he is through with spending time with his children.” – Source, Vanguard Newspaper.
Claim: “Several sources close to the ex-president, who confirmed that Jonathan had sought refuge last week in the West African country, also blamed the heightened attacks on oil and gas installations by Ijaw militants in the Niger Delta, resulting in the loss of an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day…” – Source, The Eagle Online.
Goodluck Jonathan: “It is a wicked attempt to link me with the renewed Niger Delta crisis.” – Source, The Nation Online.
Team Jonathan: “I wonder where some sections of the media are getting such rumours from. I can tell you confidently that our people in the South-South are solidly behind him. Why should he go into exile when his people are not against him? I can also say, confidently, that he was in contact with his political associates ahead of the last weekend’s convention in Port-Harcourt. So there is no iota of truth in the news making rounds that he has gone into exile.” – Source, Vanguard.
Claim: “…He reportedly considered going to Kenya where there were speculations that he had financial ties to a dairy firm, but the Kenyans reportedly turned him down, claiming the pressure will be too much for them should he be indicted for corruption and declared wanted.” – Source, Sahara Reporters.
Goodluck Jonathan: “I was Vice President for two years and President for six years. I did everything I could and I served my country very well. This is what they keep saying anytime I’m outside the country. I was in Ecuador; they said I was on exile. This is my second time in Cote d’Ivoire and I’m rounding off my visit….I am not in exile, I can never be in exile, I am going to come back to Nigeria. I cannot run away from any problem, I am going to face whatever problem that exists in Nigeria.” – Source, The Nation Online.
Team Jonathan: “The president has no reason to go into exile. He has not committed any offense. Please ignore the report about his exile. He will certainly come back to the country when he is through with spending time with his children.” – Source, Vanguard.
Claim: “As a way of covering his tracks, Jonathan paid for and arranged several tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, some of which included buying awards from available colleges and universities to create a semblance of popularity.” – Source, Sahara Reporters.
Goodluck Jonathan: “I am now a private citizen. Since I left office, this is my second visit to Côte d’Ivoire; I have gone to so many countries in recent times as part of my efforts to promote peace. What I am doing is a global tour since leaving office, and this is my second visit to Côte d’Ivoire.” – Source, Vanguard.
Team Jonathan: “It is reasonable for anybody to realise that the former president will take some time out to write about Nigeria in a book form. If he is not seen for some time, it means he wants a quiet life. I should expect the former president to take some time out in a very quiet environment without any distraction to put his experience about Nigeria into writing in a book form.” – Source, Vanguard.
In the meantime, investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the precise form of business the former Nigerian president presently has in Côte d’Ivoire.