Almajiris want him back in the Villa having built schools for them
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Northern Fulani cattle rearers and Almajiris have paid a touching tribute to Goodluck Jonathan, saying they pooled N100 million to buy him the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form because he cares for them as shown during his Presidency.
Jonathan served five years in the Villa, from 5 May 2010 to 29 May 2015.
Agitation for his return by Almajiris again highlights the failure of Muhammadu Buhari, their fellow Northerner and the waster of Nigeria, who does not care for the poor in the North nor for other poor folks anywhere else in the land.
Jonathan has turned down the offer, but this group of his supporters insist he has no choice but to take it up, even as critics see a Northern plot to return him to Aso Rock where he can only serve fours year for a Northerner to take over.
“Jonathan is a Christian with a heart of Muslim. When he was President, he supported Almajiri schools, took care of our children, and fed them in many Northern states.
“The money for the nomination form was contributed by Fulani cattle rearers in the country. We saw some media reporting Miyetti Allah or Northern Youths. That’s not true,” said Fulani Group Secretary Usman Mohammed.
The group, which comprises nomadic Fulani and Almajiri communities, stormed the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Monday evening to buy the form.
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Jonathan turns down offer
The news stirred Nigerians to wonder if Jonathan was indeed considering a return to Aso Rock on the platform of the APC, which meant he would jettison the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But Jonathan quickly dissociated himself from the initiative. He said he did not authorise it and described it as an insult on him in a statement he issued through his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze.
“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the name of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“We wish to categorically state that Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authourise it,” the statement said.
“We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door.
“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name of Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person.”
Group insists on Jonathan contesting
Hours after Jonathan distanced himself from the plan, Mohammed told The PUNCH that the nomination was meant to be a surprise gift to him.
He said: “I believe you are aware of how we blocked his office in the FCT during our rallies in Kano, Suleja, Minna, and Abuja, and forced him to come out to address journalists.
“It is the same approach. If he doesn’t accept our form, we won’t let him out of Nigeria.”
Mohammed explained that the Fulani pastoralists chose Jonathan out of the nearly 30 APC presidential candidates because of his patriotism and love for Nigeria.
He said his people were compelled to sell their livestock to raise money for the nomination form because of the development he brought to Fulani and Almajiri schools.
“Jonathan is a Christian with a heart of Muslim. When he was President, he supported Almajiri schools, took care of our children, and fed them in many Northern states.
“The money for the nomination form was contributed by Fulani cattle rearers in the country. We saw some media reporting Miyetti Allah or Northern Youths. That’s not true.
“Besides, he is the most experienced of all the APC presidential candidates. None of the other candidates has ever been President of the country, including [Bola] Tinubu.
“He is a man who loves Nigerians and loves other people’s children more than his own. We need him to continue with his Almajiri school project, especially in Kano where we have over three million of these students. None of them bought uniforms with their money.”