…Ex-President Laments Nigeria’s Culture of Political Deceit at Oghiadomhe’s 70th Birthday
By Franklin Adole
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, offered a rare glimpse into the emotional toll of his 2015 electoral defeat, declaring that he witnessed “a lot of betrayal” from those he trusted most while seeking reelection.
Jonathan, who spoke in Benin City at the 70th birthday celebration of his longtime ally and former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, lamented that Nigerian politics has become synonymous with treachery and duplicity.
“Politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals. I witnessed a lot of betrayal during the 2015 election,” Jonathan told the packed hall. “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.”
Against this backdrop, Jonathan described Oghiadomhe as one of the few trusted allies who never wavered. “He is one person who will take a bullet on my behalf. For me, he is somebody that you can take his words to the bank. Most politicians, you cannot take their words to the bank.”
Oghiadomhe, who served as Jonathan’s Chief of Staff between 2010 and 2014, was celebrated by a roll call of political heavyweights, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governors Lucky Igbinedion and Oserheimen Osunbor, ex-Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Chief Tom Ikimi, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome.
Jonathan’s remarks, though personal, are being interpreted as a pointed reminder of the political intrigues that led to his 2015 loss and as a subtle re-entry into national political discourse.
Since leaving office, Jonathan has maintained a posture of elder statesmanship, often sought after as a peace mediator across Africa. Yet, with Nigeria gripped by economic hardship, escalating insecurity, and growing public disenchantment with the Tinubu administration, voices within and outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are calling on him to “come back and rescue the nation.”
“Jonathan’s reflection on betrayal in 2015 speaks to Nigeria’s deepest problem: a lack of trust in leadership. Ironically, his candour and integrity are the very qualities Nigerians are now yearning for in 2027,” said a PDP chieftain who attended the event.
Already, there is quiet agitation among PDP leaders and civil society groups for Jonathan to step forward once more. His legacy, particularly in overseeing Nigeria’s only peaceful transfer of power between rival parties in 2015, has continued to burnish his image at home and abroad.
Analysts argue that his non-confrontational style and reputation as a democrat could provide a unifying platform for a fractured opposition struggling to reinvent itself ahead of the next presidential election.
At the same time, Jonathan’s veiled references to betrayal may also serve as a cautionary note to PDP leaders who are currently embroiled in internal battles with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Eminent Leaders. While some party elders privately believe that only Jonathan commands the moral authority to bring order to the PDP before 2027, Wike has openly declared that he should resist the temptation to run against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Observers note that Jonathan’s words were not just about Oghiadomhe’s loyalty but a subtle reminder of the contrast between dependable leadership and the culture of deceit that continues to plague Nigerian politics.
“Jonathan remains perhaps the most unifying figure in Nigerian politics today. His lament about betrayal is a reminder of why the country desperately needs leaders whose words can be taken to the bank,” said one attendee.
As 2027 draws closer, Jonathan may find it increasingly difficult to ignore the mounting pressure for his return. For now, his reflections in Benin offer both a window into the pains of the past and a preview of the arguments that may shape Nigeria’s next presidential race.