Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that he and the traditional rulers in the Niger Delta region have engaged in talks with the militants to cease fire and allow Nigeria to enjoy unity.
The former President, who spoke to news men after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, emphasized that it is appropriate for him and traditional rulers in the area to mediate in the matter.
“It’s not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country. Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a United Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil.
“So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have, if we fragmentize the country into small components, we will be forgotten by the World.
“That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved.”
Information had it that because of the intervention of former President Jonathan, the militant groups announced that they have suspended their plan to declare Niger Delta Republic out of the Republic of Nigeria.
Jonathan told news men that he was in Aso Rock to brief President Buhari on his emergence as the leader of African Union (AU) elections monitoring team to Zambia.
“You asked why I came to see the President today, one key thing is that having been a head of a government, a former president you become a state property. That’s the privilege you have but every privilege has its corresponding responsibility, and once you become a state property, most of your international engagement, that has to do with public addresses and some international assignment becomes a national assignment, you brief the President.
“Even when I was here the former presidents used to do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I come in the night that’s why you don’t see me. I came to brief the President about some of my engagements. As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia. I came to brief the President about some of these external engagements. It is the tradition”, he said.
“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved.” [myad]
