Jonathan Accepts Apology From Shagari’s Son Who Is ‘Disappointed’ At Buhari

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted an apology offered to him by Aminu Shagari, a three time member of the House of Representatives and son of the late president Shehu Shagari.

Shagari had apologised to Jonathan for “bringing down his government” and campaigning against his re-election in the 2015 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, Shagari expressed regret for helping to divide the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and working for Buhari’s election.

He expressed regret that despite the support Buhari got from the Shagari family in 2015, the president didn’t deem it fit to fulfill his promise to immortalize their late father when he died, neither did the president “comfort” the family over their loss.

Shehu Shagari, who was Nigeria’s first democratically elected president, died on December 28, 2018.

His son said President Buhari never gave “words of comfort” during his visit to the family.

Shagari said, “We didn’t hear such because he didn’t say anything. We gave him the condolence register. He only signed and put the date. Personally, I was very disappointed with that. I expected that at least, as Muslim, he would write, ‘May Allah forgive him and may Allah forgive us when our time comes.’ That makes me extremely disappointed in him.”

On Buhari’s alleged promise to immortalise his late father, Shagari said: “I was never contacted and the Presidency has not contacted our family, to the best of my knowledge. Nothing has changed; the only thing I remember is that, at a campaign rally in Bauchi, after his visit to our father’s residence in Sokoto, prayers were offered for my dad. This probably was an afterthought following the backlash that followed his (Buhari) mere signing of the condolence register, with no written or verbal condolence message.

“This is somebody we really supported, campaigned for and mobilised people for his election because we obediently adhered to our father’s dictate to forgive and let bygone be bygone. The same Muhammadu Buhari, in the condolence letter he gave the state governor (Aminu Waziri Tambuwal), promised to immortalise our dad. Close to two years after his death, he has yet to fulfil his promise. Whereas he recently named certain landmarks after some Nigerians who are still alive, including former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Let me use this opportunity to tender a public apology to former President Jonathan and seek forgiveness because I helped to divide the Peoples Democratic Party and bring down his government, but, I have found out that what we thought about his stewardship was not entirely true. I expect President Buhari to also ask for forgiveness having found out that most of the things he accused my dad’s and President Jonathan’s administrations of are not true,” he said.

But responding in a Facebook post on Monday, Jonathan said he never harbored any ill-feeling toward Shagari’s Son.

He wrote, “Dear Honourable Aminu Shagari, Thank you for your apology. However, I never took offence. My firm belief is that I am a pencil in the Hand of God. Therefore, I have no enemies to fight, because of my confidence that people can only do to me what God permits. I urge you to continue to emulate the humility of your father, the late President Shehu Shagari, a most detribalised Nigerian. May God bless you.”