Former President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that former U.S. President Barack Obama worked against him during the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan revealed this in his upcoming book, ‘My Transition Hours’, which will be officially launched on Tuesday. He accused Obama of openly showing preference during the election and described his conduct as overbearing and “condescending” in a message addressed to Nigerians ahead of the polls.
Jonathan explained that “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.”
He added that in the video, Obama advised Nigerians to “open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.” According to Jonathan, this was a subtle message encouraging Nigerians to choose the opposition.
Premium Times, which accessed the book before its public unveiling in Abuja, reported that Jonathan intentionally kept the content away from the public to avoid leaks.
Jonathan lost the 2015 election to the late President Muhammadu Buhari the first time a sitting president was defeated in Nigeria. He initially became president in 2010 after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later secured his own full four-year mandate in 2011.
Speaking further on Obama’s video, Jonathan said the approach “was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them.”
He also criticized Obama for insisting that all Nigerians must vote freely “without intimidation or fear” while allegedly not supporting security measures to push Boko Haram out of occupied territories before the election.
Jonathan did not spare former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry either. He accused Kerry of dismissing the Nigerian government’s concerns, even when they attempted to explain that postponing the election was in Nigeria’s best interest.
Jonathan questioned the U.S. position, asking “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 were killing and maiming Nigerians?”
He added that “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.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that former U.S. President Barack Obama worked against him during the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan revealed this in his upcoming book, ‘My Transition Hours’, which will be officially launched on Tuesday. He accused Obama of openly showing preference during the election and described his conduct as overbearing and “condescending” in a message addressed to Nigerians ahead of the polls.
Jonathan explained that “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.”
He added that in the video, Obama advised Nigerians to “open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.” According to Jonathan, this was a subtle message encouraging Nigerians to choose the opposition.
Premium Times, which accessed the book before its public unveiling in Abuja, reported that Jonathan intentionally kept the content away from the public to avoid leaks.
Jonathan lost the 2015 election to the late President Muhammadu Buhari the first time a sitting president was defeated in Nigeria. He initially became president in 2010 after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later secured his own full four-year mandate in 2011.
Speaking further on Obama’s video, Jonathan said the approach “was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them.”
He also criticized Obama for insisting that all Nigerians must vote freely “without intimidation or fear” while allegedly not supporting security measures to push Boko Haram out of occupied territories before the election.
Jonathan did not spare former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry either. He accused Kerry of dismissing the Nigerian government’s concerns, even when they attempted to explain that postponing the election was in Nigeria’s best interest.
Jonathan questioned the U.S. position, asking “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 were killing and maiming Nigerians?”
He added that “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.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that former U.S. President Barack Obama worked against him during the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan revealed this in his upcoming book, ‘My Transition Hours’, which will be officially launched on Tuesday. He accused Obama of openly showing preference during the election and described his conduct as overbearing and “condescending” in a message addressed to Nigerians ahead of the polls.
Jonathan explained that “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.”
He added that in the video, Obama advised Nigerians to “open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.” According to Jonathan, this was a subtle message encouraging Nigerians to choose the opposition.
Premium Times, which accessed the book before its public unveiling in Abuja, reported that Jonathan intentionally kept the content away from the public to avoid leaks.
Jonathan lost the 2015 election to the late President Muhammadu Buhari — the first time a sitting president was defeated in Nigeria. He initially became president in 2010 after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later secured his own full four-year mandate in 2011.
Speaking further on Obama’s video, Jonathan said the approach “was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them.”
He also criticized Obama for insisting that all Nigerians must vote freely “without intimidation or fear” while allegedly not supporting security measures to push Boko Haram out of occupied territories before the election.
Jonathan did not spare former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry either. He accused Kerry of dismissing the Nigerian government’s concerns, even when they attempted to explain that postponing the election was in Nigeria’s best interest.
Jonathan questioned the U.S. position, asking “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 were killing and maiming Nigerians?”
He added that “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.”