Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied authorizing the purchase of the N100 million All Progressives Congress Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms bought in his name.
WuzupNigeria reported that the APC 2023 presidential election forms were purchased by nomadic Fulani pastoralists and Almajiri communities.
Bashir Ahamad, an aide to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd), had tweeted last night that Jonathan who has been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party has joined the APC.
“So Goodluck Jonathan has dumped the opposition PDP and now a member of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
However, Jonathan’s loyalist and ex-aide, Reno Omokri, had called for patience, adding that people are easily manipulated.
“To those who think I am in a dilemma, just be patient. You will all be so disappointed with yourselves and your premature celebration when you see my next tweet. You guys are so easy to manipulate.
“First of all, to whet your appetite, let me say that under the rain and under the sun, I will follow Jonathan. Secondly, I can’t ever be one with APC. Thirdly, nobody can shave HE @GEJonathan’s head in his absence. Read between the lines.”
However, in a statement released late on Monday, Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, said it was an insult for the community to buy the forms for him without his consent.
The statement was in reaction to the earlier purchase of the forms for the former president to contest the party’s ticket with other aspirants for the 2023 presidential election.
“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the APC in the name of former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it.
“We want to state that if the former president wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door,” Eze said.
He, however, expressed appreciation for the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 presidential election.
Eze stressed that the former president had not in any way, committed himself to the request.
“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person.
“The general public is therefore advised to disregard it,” Eze maintained as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.
