Buba Galadima of the New Nigeria Peoples Party has said the worsening insecurity across the country has forced him to rethink his long-standing criticisms of Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency.
He made the remark on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, November 24, explaining that he once saw himself as one of Jonathan’s fiercest critics but now believes the former president managed security challenges more effectively than those who came after him.
Galadima recalled that in the lead-up to the 2015 elections, Jonathan delayed the polls for six weeks to confront rising insecurity.
He noted that the former president brought in mercenaries who, in his view, helped stabilise the country and enabled elections to hold in every polling unit.
He argued that the current administration would not adopt such measures if faced with similar threats, alleging that it would allow insecurity to deepen for political advantage.
Galadima described Jonathan’s actions at the time as evidence of leadership that was “humane” and mindful of democratic principles, even though postponing the vote could cost him a second term.
He said: “I spoke to journalists and I said something. Me that’s speak to you seated here was one of the greatest critics of Jonathan’s presidency.
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“The way at that time he handled matters, I didn’t know that God will disgrace me to show me that Jonathan was even a saint and a better administrator than those that follow him.”
He added: “First, he is a third world leader. The insecurity reached its highest level, six weeks, I mean, some few days to election.
“And Jonathan suspended the election, put off the election, and took another six weeks and brought mercenaries.”
He continued: “If this government today has that opportunity of chaos, one or two weeks to election, they will allow it continue so that they can write figures and announce themselves as winners.
“But Jonathan stopped that election, and he knew for sure that if there was a free and fair election, no incumbent government can get second term.”
He concluded: “He’s an educated man with PhD. He knows that, but because of his humane nature, he postponed the election for six weeks, brought in mercenaries, and within six weeks, those mercenaries stabilized Nigeria, and there was no polling booth in Nigeria that elections did not take place.”