The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, stated that the country’s worsening security situation has caused him to re-evaluate his previous criticisms of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Galadima made this statement during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday.
Galadima, who admitted he was once one of Jonathan’s “greatest critics,” now believes the former president demonstrated superior competence in managing national security compared to his successors.
Galadima recalled that before the 2015 general elections, Jonathan postponed the polls for six weeks to address rising insecurity. He claimed Jonathan brought in mercenaries who helped stabilize the nation and ensured that elections were held successfully across every polling unit.
He argued that the current administration would not take similar measures if faced with the same crisis, alleging that it would instead let insecurity escalate to manipulate the election results.
Galadima suggested that Jonathan’s decision at the time showed “humane” leadership and respect for democratic procedures, even though he knew a fair election might cost him a second term.
He said: “I spoke to journalists and I said something. Me that speak to you seated here was one of the greatest critics of Jonathan’s presidency. 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. 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’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.”
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