Boko Haram, Chibok girls abduction used against my re-election, says Jonathan

Adejoke Adeogun
Adejoke Adeogun
Ex-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Tuesday in Abuja that his opponents used the issues of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok and fuel subsidy to throw him out of power in 2015.

Dr. Jonathan who spoke in Abuja, during the launch of his book, titled, “My Transition Hours” said some Nigerians at that time even alleged that he brought the Boko Haram insurgents to kill and reduce the voting population in the North so that he would win the election.

The ex-president said some high profile politicians both home and abroad had asked why he conceded defeat after the announcement of results, explaining that such questions necessitated his decision to write the book.

Goodluck Jonathan's new book
Goodluck Jonathan’s new book

“Whenever I travel out and even at home, people ask me, ‘why did you concede defeat?,’ ‘Why did you make that phone call?’, ‘Why didn’t you go to court?’ That is one of the reasons I felt like writing the book. The book focuses mainly on the election.

“But it is important to mention certain things, especially negative things because the life of a government is like the life of an individual. There are some areas that are positive and there are other areas that are negative.

“There are certain issues in government that were used against me during the elections; the issue of Boko Haram and Chibok girls. Some people even said I brought Boko Haram to reduce the voting population of the North so that I will win the election. I commented on the Chibok girls.

“Also the fuel subsidy that was really used by, of course, politicians must explore opportunity. So I don’t blame them, even I myself, I would probably, have explored the same opportunity. But I needed to explain why we took that decision.

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