Former President Goodluck Jonathan revealed that a presidential aide hid a letter from late President Umaru Yar’Adua, intended to transfer power to him, from the National Assembly, causing a constitutional crisis.
Jonathan disclosed this during an interview, stating that Yar’Adua, aware of his deteriorating health, had signed a letter designating Jonathan as acting president. However, a senior aide deliberately withheld the letter, preventing its submission to the National Assembly, which was necessary to formalize the power transfer. This action plunged Nigeria into political uncertainty during Yar’Adua’s illness.
The former president explained that the aide’s interference disrupted the constitutional process, leaving the country without a clear acting president at the time. Jonathan noted that the incident occurred amidst tensions, as some northern leaders preferred Yar’Adua to complete an eight-year tenure before power shifted south. The blocked letter exacerbated these political divisions.
Jonathan’s revelation aligns with earlier reports from 2010, when associates of both Yar’Adua and Jonathan confirmed that only a few aides were involved in restricting access to the ailing president. Even Yar’Adua’s mother and siblings were reportedly barred from seeing him, highlighting the extent of control by certain aides during that period.
The former president’s account underscores the challenges he faced in assuming leadership. He emphasized that the aide’s actions not only delayed his role as acting president but also strained Nigeria’s governance. Jonathan’s comments have sparked renewed discussions about transparency and loyalty within the presidency during critical transitions.
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