FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has opened up on his political ordeal during the 2015 general elections, declaring that he faced a wave of betrayal from politicians, many of whom could not be trusted to stand by their words.
Jonathan, who spoke on Thursday in Benin at the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, his former Chief of Staff, described Nigerian politics as a terrain riddled with deceit, where loyalty is scarce.
The former President recalled the difficulties of navigating political alliances during his failed reelection bid in 2015, stressing that his experience revealed the true nature of many politicians.
“Politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals. I have witnessed a lot of betrayal during the 2015 election,” Jonathan said.
According to him, the culture of inconsistency among politicians makes it difficult to trust anyone completely.
“You’ll find it difficult to see somebody who will say the same thing in the morning, and say the same thing in the afternoon and in the evening. They will tell you something this minute and the next one hour, they’ll say another thing,” he lamented.
Despite this gloomy reflection, Jonathan reserved special praise for Oghiadomhe, describing him as one of the very few friends who remained steadfast.
“For me, he is somebody you can take his words to the bank. Most politicians, you cannot take their words to the bank. Oghiadomhe is one person who will take a bullet on my behalf,” Jonathan declared.
Oghiadomhe, a veteran politician and businessman, served as Jonathan’s Chief of Staff between 2010 and 2014 before resigning to pursue other political interests. Jonathan said the celebrant remained loyal and dependable, even in moments of political turbulence.
The birthday celebration attracted an impressive roll call of political heavyweights and dignitaries across Nigeria. Among those present were Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo governors Lucky Igbinedion and Oserheimen Osunbor, former Gombe governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Chief Tom Ikimi, and Prof. (Mrs.) Izia Ize-Iyamu, Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
The event provided not only a celebration of Oghiadomhe’s legacy but also a platform for Jonathan to reflect on one of the most turbulent chapters of his political career.
