My Transition Hours
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised the alarm over a fake
online version of his book, “My Transition Hours’’ which he launched to
mark his 61st birthday on Tuesday.
In a tweet on Thursday, Jonathan said: “ We have just been
informed that a fake document contrived by mischief makers is being
passed on as the e-version and hard copy of the just launched
‘#MyTransitionHours’’’.
“ Also, note that the e-copy of #MyTransitionHours ’is not
being marketed, as such, the fake online version could only have been
created by those out to deceive the unsuspecting public.
“ We advise the general public to ignore such publication as
the chapters and contents are not the same as the book publicly
presented two days ago in Abuja. #MyTransitionHours,’’ Jonathan further tweeted.
As the cover of the book displayed to differentiate the true from
the false version, he further threw more light on the difference.
Jonathan in his book accused ex-President Barack Obama of U.S of pushing for his defeat in the 2015 Presidential election.
Jonathan said Obama took unusual step by “prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition” in the election.
“On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual
step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians all but telling
them how to vote,” Mr Jonathan wrote.
“In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the “next
chapter” by their votes. Those who understood subliminal language
deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the
opposition to form a new government.”
Jonathan said that the message undermined Nigerians and smacked of hypocrisy.
“The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them,” he said.
The former Nigerian leader added that although Obama, in his
message, said “all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without
intimidation or fear,” his government was vehemently and publicly
against the postponement of the elections to enable the military defeat
Boko Haram and prevent them from intimidating voters.
“This was the height of hypocrisy!” Jonathan declared.
Jonathan’s grouse with Obama went beyond the video. He narrated in
the book that the actions of the then U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry, especially his visit to Nigeria after the elections were
rescheduled from February 2015 to March belied a plot to humiliate him.
This, he explained, was because even though the decision to
postpone the elections was taken by INEC after a meeting of the Council
of State, Kerry refused to accept that it was in the interest of the
country and the electorate.
“In fact, John Kerry did not accept our reasons for the rescheduling.
“How can the U.S. Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigeria’s own government?
“How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko
Haram controlled part of the North East and was killing and maiming
Nigerians? Not even the assurance of the sanctity of May 29, 2015
handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the Constitution is very
clear. No President can extend his tenure by one day.”
Despite the criticism that followed the decision to reschedule the
election, Jonathan insisted that the decision was the right one and it
paid off.
“Anyhow, the six weeks served us well. We received the military
equipment we were expecting within that period and our Armed Forces
commendably dealt a deserving blow on the terrorists and repossessed all
territorial areas of Nigeria previously occupied by the terrorists.
Boko Haram was deflated up to the point I handed over to my successor on
May 29, 2015.
“We conducted the elections peacefully, even if there were
issues raised about its fairness. At least, the nation was relieved that
the election held peacefully and that there was no post-election
violence.”
“The decision and announcement to postpone the elections were
eventually made by the only body which could do so under the
Constitution. I should talk briefly about the INEC here because of the
insinuations that my administration muscled INEC to make the
pronouncement. Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth as
people came to realise.
“Yes, the posture of INEC could appear edgy, but it knew it was not ready and that the election was too important to mess up.
“The PVC shortage was everywhere. The lopsided collection of
PVC caused an uproar that grew into a national din. The suspected
housing of PVCs in the custody of non-INEC personnel was an issue.
There were also issues with card readers. All of these
happening despite years of preparation and substantial funds made
available. It was all building up to a perfect storm, but those were
INEC’s problems which we were willing to help resolve.
“Even then, the security of our country was our job and the
military advised as they deemed fit. Before the election was eventually
rescheduled by INEC, I summoned all the Service Chiefs, the NSA, the
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of State Security
(DG DSS), among others to get further information.
“Then I called a meeting of the Council of State and requested
the heads of security services and the INEC chairman to attend. These
were not apolitical, but at least they could rise above politics and
represent the interest of the entire country.
“At the end of deliberations, it was agreed that the elections
should be postponed for six weeks in order to create a safer environment
for voters and officials on Election Day.
“Let me add that the Council of State comprises all former
Presidents and Heads of State, all former chief justices of the
federation, and all 36 serving State Governors who are from different
political parties.
“The INEC was then directed to hold meetings with political
parties while the NSA was to brief them on the security angle to the
rescheduling.
“The vote in favour of the rescheduling was overwhelming. INEC
thereafter announced the rescheduling of the election to the nation.
“I must add that beyond security concerns, one finds it
difficult to understand how INEC or the political parties would want
elections held at a time when more than 30% of the Nigerian electorate
where yet to get their PVCs. This would have disenfranchised a
significant portion of the electorate.
“The foreign pressure on the issue of election rescheduling was
intense. They maintained the curious posture of one who had been
deceived before and therefore had every reason to cede no credence to
our position. But there was no reason to have such a posture.
“The United States and the United Kingdom were especially
agitated. David Cameron, then the U.K. Prime Minister, called to express
his concern about the election rescheduling, just as John Kerry came
from the United States to express further worry. It was at best unusual
and sobering. In fact, John Kerry did not accept our reasons for the
rescheduling.
“It was unbelievable because at the back of our minds we knew
why the agitation was beyond what meets the eye. There were deeper
political interests.
“In attendance at the meeting of the Council of State where the
decision to reschedule the election was taken were almost all the
living former Heads of State of this country.
“That should have convinced John Kerry of the good intentions
of the government. He cannot claim to love and defend Nigeria more than
all our former heads of state present at the meeting. I have stated
earlier how Kerry’s visit was designed to humiliate a sitting Nigerian
President and clearly take sides in the country’s election.
“Anyhow, the six weeks served us well. We received the military
equipment we were expecting within that period and our Armed Forces
commendably dealt a deserving blow on the terrorists and repossessed all
territorial areas of Nigeria previously occupied by the terrorists.
Boko Haram was deflated up to the point I handed over to my successor on
May 29, 2015.
“We conducted the elections peacefully, even if there were
issues raised about its fairness. At least, the nation was relieved that
the election held peacefully and that there was no post-election
violence,” Jonathan stated in his book.
NAN