The former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has denied instructing any group to purchase the All Progressives Congress Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interests forms on hid behalf. Acording to him, it is insulting for any group to do so without express authorization from him.
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Amaechi, it read in part: “It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it”
The statement further stated that the the ex president would make his intentions clear if he has decided to so do and not through proxies. “We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door’, it asserted.
.”While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians, for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 Presidential election, we wish to state, that he has not in anyway, committed himself to this request. Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr. Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person. The general public is therefore advised to disregard it.” the statement concluded.
It would be recalled that the media has been awash with reports on his purported presidential ambition. Jonathan, though has not been committal in his responses to people urging him on, but political watchers say that the South south politician was undecided whether to contest or not but lacks the will to throw his hat in the ring.
Even after the rebuttal of the alleged form purchase on his behalf, it was reported in the media this morning that he was holding a meeting with the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu. The waiting game would soon be over as the window period for the purchase of the nomination form would close.
Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, leader of the nomadic Fulani pastoralists and Almajiri communities, had earlier told newsmen after picking the forms that Jonathan should be re-elected to enable him to complete what he began.
“My name is Ibrahim Abdullahi, I represent two of the most vulnerable communities in our country, the nomadic pastoralists and the almajiri communities.
“We have decided to purchase this form for our former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to come back and rule this country and continue with the good work he started,” he said.
Among other things, he said Jonathan was the first president since the country gained independence in 1960 that found it expedient, through his magnanimity, to remember the Almajiri community.
Source: Drumnewsonlinese within 48 hours.
