By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Nigeria's former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Thursday, visited the former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.
Jonathan who explained the purpose of his trip to Minna, said his visit to Abdulsalami has nothing to do with politics or the 2023 general elections but, “part of my routine checks on my seniors. As you can see, I am the youngest amongst them, so I have come to see how they are doing’.
The former President who said he has been visiting former Nigerian leaders based in Minna (Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and ex-military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida) occasionally to see how they are faring as elder statesmen, however debunked any insinuations that his visit has any political undertone.
“It's been a year since I came to Niger state. I am the most junior among the former Presidents, so I do go round to visit them. I have not seen General Abdulsalami for sometime, you know he just came back from abroad where he went for medical treatment”.
“It is only proper to come with some of my friends to greet him and I went to also see IBB. There is nothing special about the visit but a normal regular visit that I normally do”, Jonathan said.
Paying glowing tribute to the former Military Head of State, Goodluck Jonathan said, “Nigeria needs General Abdulsalami especially now that the 2023 elections are at hand in order to contribute his quota towards ensuring; peaceful, free and fair elections”.
“We need him especially as the former Chairman National Peace Committee. He mid-wifed and ensured peaceful election and as we approach elections again, there is so much pressure on him to see how we can conduct next year’s elections to be free, fair in an environment that is also peaceful”.
Jonathan has called on the Nigerian electorates to be resolute at electing persons who have good intentions and plans on how to improve on their wellbeing. According to him, such candidates must be individuals whose antecedents must be in conformity with that of Nigeria’s founding fathers who believed in the one indivisible Nigeria.
He encouraged the Nigerian electorates to vote for candidates whose antecedents, personal interests and policy trust will not be against that of the generality of Nigeria’s various ethnic nationalities.
Speaking to journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with General Abdulsalami Abubakar which lasted for about half an hour in his house, Jonathan said Nigerians cannot afford to make costly mistake of voting wrong candidates that would compound problems.
Jonathan told journalists that the situation Nigeria found herself now require, “Someone who has the interest of every Nigerian at heart, irrespective of tribal, religion, regional and political affiliations, and someone not treat all of us equally as equal stakeholder.
“My advice to Nigerians and the electorates in particular is to vote for candidates that will not compromise his office for his own personal aggrandisement at the detriment of the present and future generations”, Jonathan said. He encouraged all eligible voters to get their PVCs and be ready to exercise their franchise.
Nigeria, according to him, is also in dire need of a leader who would carry all Nigerians along irrespective of where they come from. Such persons, he also said, should see the entire country as his project by ensuring that it moves towards the path of growth and development. NNL.
