Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed shocking details about the political conspiracies and tensions he faced as Vice President during the critical illness of his late boss, President Umaru Yar’Adua.
In an interview with the Rainbow Book Club discussing his memoir, My Transition Hours, Jonathan disclosed that some northerners plotted to oust him from the Presidential Villa to prevent the South from assuming the presidency. He also revealed that a letter meant to transfer power to him was hidden by one of Yar’Adua’s aides, further complicating the leadership transition.
Jonathan described a deeply divided nation during Yar’Adua’s health crisis, marked by intense North-South and Christian-Muslim tensions. As Yar’Adua’s condition deteriorated, requiring medical treatment abroad, Jonathan faced constant rumors of a coup. “Every day I was hearing about a coup,” he said, underscoring the volatile atmosphere within the Presidential Villa.
Amid these challenges, Jonathan disclosed a critical incident involving a letter intended to formalize the transfer of power to him as Vice President. “One of the president’s aides hid the letter given to me to hand over power,” Jonathan revealed, highlighting the deliberate efforts to undermine his authority and block the South from assuming leadership. This act of concealment added to the political intrigue and resistance he faced during this period.
Jonathan also recounted how some friends advised him to prioritize his safety by avoiding the State House. “I remember one day, I was still Vice President, they had not even moved the Doctrine of Necessity, and some of my friends came and said, ‘No, you don’t have to sleep here. You have to come and sleep in my guest house,’” he recalled. Defiant, Jonathan refused to leave, stating, “I said, ‘No.’ I will stay in the State House. If anybody wants to kill me, it’s better that you kill me in the State House so Nigerians will know that they assassinated me in the State House. They know I have not committed any offence.”
His decision to remain in the Villa was a bold stand against the conspiracies aimed at denying the South the presidency. The “Doctrine of Necessity,” referenced by Jonathan, was a crucial 2010 National Assembly resolution that eventually transferred power to him as Acting President during Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence. However, this move faced significant opposition, exacerbated by actions like the concealment of the power transfer letter.
Jonathan’s revelations provide a stark glimpse into the intense political maneuvering, regional divides, and personal risks that defined Nigeria’s leadership transition during Yar’Adua’s illness. His resolve to stay in the State House and his exposure of the hidden letter underscore the challenges he navigated to uphold his role. The former president’s account in My Transition Hours continues to spark discussions about the complexities of power dynamics and regional politics in Nigeria’s history.
