By Danlami Nmodu
Fresh facts have emerged about the world acclaimed action of President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress after Nigeria’s presidential election held last week..
Sources who have chosen remain anonymous revealed to Newsdiaryonline that Jonathan acted based on the reading of the unfolding results by his National Security Adviser ,Col Sambo Dasuki, retired.Sambo ,according to our sources,told Jonathan that based on the results known at that time there was no way , the president could defeat Buhari.Sambo advised him to take the path of honour and write his name in gold. The best thing for the president to do was to call General Buhari and congratulate him,Sambo told his boss.
One of Newsdiaryonline sources said Sambo advised the president not to allow himself to be deceived by the likes of Godsday Erubebe and his ilks.It could be recalled that Orubebe accompanied by some PDP agents disrupted the collation of results at the International Conference Centre,ICC.
Orubebe poured venom on the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission. Professor Attahiru Jega.Instructively, Orubebe said repeatedly that Jega cannot continue with the collation of results,an indication that some elements wanted the elector process aborted.
After Orubebbe’s interruption,,Jega explained what happened .He accused Colonel Bello Fadile(retd) who was acting as one of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP agents of serving him with a petition improperly. More importantly, Jega reminded Orubebe that “you were a minister of the Federal Republic and you are a statesman in your own right”.He advised the ex minister to be mindful of his public conduct.
After reports emerged that President Goodluck Jonathan had called General Buhari and congratulated him ,more reports also filtered out that Orubebe had expressed regret about his actions.The voice of reason triumphed.
Newsdiaryonline sources said Sambo felt Orubebe’s antics could destroy President Jonathan’s legacy of ensuring a free and fair electoral process .He felt it was a golden opportunity which the president should not miss, Newsdiaryonline was told .Fortunately ,Jonathan also agreed entirely with Sambo’s reading of the situation, insiders said.
Another source who has worked closely with Jonathan for more than four years told Newsdiaryonline that essentially, the president has always been a man of peace who always wanted the best for the country.Sadly, the source said ,he has been surrounded by some aides and ministers who have hijacked the process of governance.One angry source also recalled the negative effects of the moves and political miscalculations of the First Lady ,Mrs Patience Jonathan which added to the president’s woes.One of ources sources said the president sadly trusted these aides and allowed them to operate.
“But when it mattered most Mr president acted courageously .Remember , he once told us that he was the most criticized presdent.He also said on that occasion that his value will only be appreciated at the end of his tenure.,you remember his rather prophetic words? ”another Jonathan watcher said.
One source said “though Sambo advised Mr President to do so, it was Jonathan’s decision to make that all important move and put a call through to General Buhari and credit must be given to Mr President”. Another keen watcher of the presidency told Newsdiaryonline the he believes Jonathan’s act of conceding defeat was an in-house decision not a product of any international pressure. “I believe strongly that it is the kind of advice Sambo can give because I know him very well.More importantly ,Jonathan should be commended for taking this Mandela- like decision”,the Aso Rock watcher said.
Indeed, most Nigerians has applauded Jonathan for his unprecedented move.Even global powers led by United States President Barack Obama and United Nations,UN secretary General ,Ban Ki Moon among others have hailed the president’s move.
An observer recalled that Sambo’s priority has all along been how to ensure peaceful and credible election.The NSA stuck out his neck ,the observer said “when he insisted the elections should be postponed from February 14th because he was convinced that INEC was not ready.Can you imagine the crisis that would have trailed a chaotic election on February 14th ?Several lives would have been lost” he said further .Well ,the opposition saw thing different as APC felt the regime was buying time in the face of imminent defeat.
One fact that was undeniable was that everyone was apprehensive about the likelihood of post election violence.Several Nigerians left their places of residence and relocated “home” or to places considered “safe”.
Intelligence sources told Newsdiaryonline that even the US had increased her presence on the West African Coast out of fear of violence in Nigeria.US ship with planes were sighted of the coast of a West African coast,one source said.US planes were seen doing regular exercises which intelligence sources believe were part of their readiness to swiftly intervene if violence broke out in Nigeria.
Mercifully, Jonathan’s move saved Nigeria and global powers all the troubles that could have arisen from post -presidential election crisis .
Now,everyone hopes the gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections will take place equally peacefully to reaffirm Nigeria’s position among the emerging global beacons of democracy.
