Former President Goodluck Jonathan today responded to the apology tendered to him by Alhaji Aminu Shagari for the treacherous role he played in bringing down the ex-leader’s administration in 2015.
The Sokoto State-born Aminu and three-term member of the House of Representatives is the son of late Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, whose government was overthrown in 1983 by the military regime of then General Muhammadu Buhari.
Despite this, Aminu admitted in a recent press interview, that he worked to divide Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pave way for the electoral victory of then opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), which fielded Buhari as its presidential candidate in 2015.
In the interview, he had said: “Let me use this opportunity to tender a public apology to former President Jonathan and seek forgiveness because I helped to divide the Peoples Democratic Party and bring down his government, but I have found out that what we thought about his stewardship was not entirely true.
“I expect President Buhari to also ask for forgiveness having found out that most of the things he accused my dad’s and President Jonathan’s administrations of are not true.”
Reacting on his Facebook page, Jonathan told the young Shagari that his apology was accepted, although he never took any offence over his action in 2015; and that he had no enemies to fight.
He instead urged him to continue to emulate his late father, ex-President Shagari, who he described as a detribalised Nigerian leader.
“Dear Honourable Aminu Shagari, Thank you for your apology.
“However, I never took offence. My firm belief is that I am a pencil in the Hand of God. Therefore, I have no enemies to fight, because of my confidence that people can only do to me what God permits.
“I urge you to continue to emulate the humility of your father, the late President Shehu Shagari, a most detribalised Nigerian. May God bless you”, Jonathan wrote.
