By Abubakar Garba D/Malam
The Governor of Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as an angel for conceding defeat without pressures in the 2015 presidential election.
In his keynote address at the public presentation of a book titled ‘Dear President Goodluck Jonathan’ written in his honour by Bonaventure Melah, a former Managing Editor of Daily Times, Ganduje said “I agree with those who call you an angel for conceding defeat. I salute you for that. You have made a name not just for yourself, but for Nigeria, Africa, all developing countries, and for democracy. So, I salute you”. he added.
The governor also commended Jonathan for revolutionizing the almajiri school system, and for his decision to sack ex-CBN Sanusi Lamido, over his ‘unguarded’ comments about missing public funds. “Boko Haram succeeded because they had the almajirai base for easy recruitment and indoctrination. But we salute you for what you did in that regard. We are multiplying the new model of almajiri schools in Kano. That is an important legacy you left for us”. said Ganduje.
The governor also comments on the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the emir of Kano as another legacy but has at the tail end created bad blood in Kano. “I personally felt he should have spoken to you privately about the issue of the missing public funds is reportedly discovered so that you could look into the matter without alerting the looters or creating unnecessary public outrage.
“But then, Sanusi was appointed Emir not because he was the best man but because Kano wanted to prove a point. They were protests and bonfires against his appointment as Emir but he was able stabilize in Kano with the support of the government.
“However, we had to save the system and the institution when a familiar scenario began to play out in Kano. So, I applied the ‘Jonathan medicine’ (sacking from office) for a similar purpose, on the same ‘disease’ and on the same ‘patient’.
“I can say we are on the same page on that matter. I am sure you are not regretting your removal of Sanusi neither do I regret removing him as emir of Kano,” he said.
In the book review, Dr. Reuben Abati said that the book, “Dear President Goodluck Jonathan, filled the gap in contemporary political history of the Nigeria.
Abati said that the book, which encapsulated the good and rough times of the Jonathan administration, and the unmet expectations of the people.
He also said that the book, which was divided into three parts and 33 chapters, highlighted the betrayals of the former President by some of his close and trusted allies as well as the security agenda of his administration amongst others issues of governance and politics.
Earlier, the chairman of the event, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, described Jonathan as a hero who always matched his words and action.
Mohammed said that the accomplishments of the former president would remain monumental in Nigerian history, adding that his decision to let the people’s vote count in the 2015 presidential election was a pride to all genuine democrats.
Others that attended the event included Governor Udom Emmanuel, Ex-ministers Tanimu Turaki, Jumoke Akinjide, Labaran Makun, and Edem Duke; Mike Ozekhome (SAN), traditional rulers, some serving and past members of the National Assembly as well as some chieftains of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and the People`s Democratic Party (PDP).