Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 presidential election, saying the need to unite Nigeria influenced his decision.
In an interview with the BBC, Jonathan spoke in Pidgin English about his support for Atiku, who was then the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Jonathan said his decision was based largely on his belief that Atiku could bring Nigerians together at a time when the country was facing political and social divisions.
According to reports on the interview, Jonathan said he was supporting Atiku because he believed the former vice president would work toward uniting the country.
The former president also addressed criticism of the PDP’s 16 years in power, arguing that Nigerians would not have survived if the party had completely failed during its years in government.
The interview has resurfaced online, with clips from the BBC conversation being shared widely on social media.
Jonathan’s support for Atiku in 2019 was significant because Atiku had emerged as the PDP’s presidential candidate after defeating other contenders at the party’s primary election.
Jonathan’s words
In the BBC interview, Jonathan explained his position in Pidgin English, saying his support for Atiku was connected to the candidate’s ability to bring Nigerians together.
“I dey support Atiku because I believe say he fit unite the country.”
The video is an archival interview from 2018, not a new statement by Jonathan. Reports from the period confirm that he publicly backed Atiku ahead of the 2019 election.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, after previously serving as vice president from 2007. He became internationally noted for conceding the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, facilitating a peaceful transfer of power.
The resurfacing of the BBC video has renewed discussion about Jonathan’s past relationship with Atiku and the political alliances that shaped Nigeria’s 2019 presidential election
