Ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan ‘not ready yet to’ comment on national issues despite pressure on him – Abati

The former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity,Mr Reuben Abati has revealed that though President Goodluck Jonathan has been under pressure to react to unfolding events, the former president has decided not talk yet.

Abati made this known in an article for publication on Sunday reflecting on his days in office.The article is titled: “The phones no longer ring,”


According to Abati, “Today, the phones remain loudly silent, with the exception of calls from those friends who are not gloating, who have been offering words of commendation and support. They include childhood friends, former colleagues, elderly associates, fans, and family members. And those who want interviews with President Jonathan, both local and international – they want his reaction on every development, so many of them from every part of the planet. But he is resting and he has asked me to say he is not ready yet to say anything. It is truly, a different moment, and indeed, “no condition is permanent.”

Though Abati did not state what Nigerians and journalists may have been asking Jonathan to react to, it may not be unconnected with the string of revelations of alleged looting which allegedly occurred during the Jonathan years.The issues which have been exposed sincePresident Muhammadu Buhari came to power include the alleged depletion of Excess Crude Account, the alleged multiple accounts of NNPC o .

Also, top aides to the former president have been under pressure.The former NSA ,Colonel Sambo Dasuki’s residences in Abuja and Sokoto were raided by securitymen and the DSS accused him of planning treasonable felony.

Jonathan’s Chief Security officer,Gordon Obuah was recently arrested and detained by the DSS.He was released after wrong reports that he had died in detention.In fact rumours of his death were so strong that the DSS had to present the ex CSO before the media “hale and hearty”.He was later released from detention.

Even more, pressure has been mounting on Jonathan’s ex ministers.There have been unconfirmed reports that some of them have been guests of the anti graft agencies already. Even president Buhari declared during his visit to the United States last week that he has documents to prosecute ex ministers. Buhari vowed to trace, recover looted funds just as he said those responsible would be prosecuted. Hints that Buhari’s probe would only focus on Jonathan-era looting alone may have further put the ex president under pressure to talks.

But Abati said “But he is resting and he has asked me to say he is not ready yet to say anything”.

Jonathan may also have been careful about talking because of conflicting signals from Buhari. Though he has vowed to prosecute all those responsible for looting, Buhari has repeatedly remained effusive in praising Jonathan for his statesmanship in conceding defeat after the 2015 general election which Buhari won on the platform of opposition All Progressives Congress,APC.

Abati recalled that prior to the presidential elections, his phones kept ringing ceaselessly. But, “The Presidential election went as it did, and everything changed. Days after, State House became Ghost House. The Residence, which used to receive visitors as early as 6 am, (regular early morning devotion attendees) became quiet. The throng of visitors stopped.

 The number of phone calls began to drop. By May 29, my phones had stopped ringing as they used to. They more or less became museum pieces; their silence reminding me of the four years of my life that proved so momentous. On one occasion, after a whole day of silence, I had to check if the phones were damaged! As it were, a cynical public relates to you not as a person, but as the office you occupy; the moment you leave office, the people move on; erasing every memory, they throw you into yesterday’s dustbin. Opportunism is the driver of the public’s relationship with public officials”.