Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the apology tendered to him by the son of former President Shehu Shagari, Aminu.
Mr Aminu Shagari, a lawyer and former federal lawmaker, admitted that he worked against the government of Mr Jonathan to bring in the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015.
However, he expressed bitterness that the man he supported, despite being the same person who chased his late father out of office in 1983 through a military coup, has not found it needful to immortalise the former president.
“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 (PDP) 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,” he said in an interview with The Punch.
He accused Mr Buhari of abandoning the family, saying, “I was never contacted and the Presidency has not contacted our family, to the best of my knowledge.”
“This is somebody we really supported, campaigned for and mobilised people for his election because we obediently adhered to our father’s dictate to forgive and let bygone be bygone.
“The same Muhammadu Buhari, in the condolence letter he gave the state governor (Aminu Waziri Tambuwal), promised to immortalise our dad. Close to two years after his death, he has yet to fulfil his promise. Whereas, he recently named certain landmarks after some Nigerians who are still alive, including former President Goodluck Jonathan,” the late Shagari’s son said.
But responding, Mr Jonathan thanked Mr Aminu Shagari for his apology, stressing that he never took the issue seriously, urging him to emulate his father’s humility.
“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,” the former President said.
