Ex-AGF says
he, Chidoka, Okonjo-Iweala, Dudafa, moved against ‘hawks’.
A former
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, on
Wednesday, said he and three other former top government officials were the
heroes of the decision of former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat
in the 2015 presidential election.
He said the
four of them ensured that Jonathan took that decision to call President
Muhammadu Buhari and concede defeat despite pressure from those he described as
hawks within the administration.
Adoke who is
currently out of the country made the clarification in a text message he sent
to our correspondent.
He said he
and former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; former Minister of
Aviation, Osita Chidoka; and former Senior Special Assistant on Domestic
Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, were the heroes of Jonathan’s decision.
The former
minister said he would address the issue and others adequately in his
soon-to-be released book, “The Burden of Service.”
Adoke said,
“My forthcoming book will address the issue most comprehensively.
“As a
patriot, I could not have advised the President not to concede defeat.
“Okonjo-Iweala,
Chidoka, myself and Dudafa are the real heroes of that historic concession.
“We ensured
that despite pressures from the hawks within the administration, the President
concede defeat by calling President Buhari as at the time he did.”
Jonathan had
in his book, “My Transition Hours,” presented to the public in Abuja on Tuesday
mentioned the four government officials in his narrative of the events that led
to his decision to concede defeat.
Jonathan
wrote, “I was in my living room with some ministers, aides and friends. Among
them were the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Honourable Minister of
Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, the Honourable Minister of
Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka and Waripamowei Dudafa, my Senior Special Assistant
on Domestic Affairs.
“They were
recommending sundry alternatives, but I was quiet in the midst of their discussion.
I hugged my thoughts, figuring out how to do that which was best for the
country. My personal interest was receding rapidly and the interest of Nigeria
looming large.
“I excused
myself and left the sitting room. I walked into my study. Even here, my mantra
was a strong circle around me, supporting and comforting me. Let the country
survive. Let democracy survive. My political ambition is not worth people being
‘soaked in blood’.
“More
reports flowed in and I could not wait anymore. The announcement of the final
result could take issues out of all our hands. It was time for me to take
action and bring peace to the nation. I felt I was destined by God at that
point in time to inject the peace serum and douse the palpable tension in the
country.
“I reached
for the telephone and placed a call through the State House operators at about
4:45 pm. A peace I had never felt since my political sojourn, descended on me.
It showed me where I had been in the past 16 years and where I was then. I
smiled at the thought of what I was about to do.
“I waited
calmly for the person at the other end of my call to answer. Buhari: “Hello Your Excellency!” Me: Your
Excellency, how are you?” Buhari: “I am alright, Your Excellency” Me:
“Congratulations!” Buhari: “Thank you very much Your Excellency …”
“For several
seconds the line was seized by the loudest silence I have ever known. Then we
had a brief discussion. I could sense his relief too. He knew what could have
been. Here is a man who had contested three times and lost. Maybe my gesture
humbled him against his expectations because he thanked me and we talked about
the handing over processes. “
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