GEJ Says He Is In Touch With Niger Delta Militants..

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has disclosed
that he was in touch with the Niger Delta militants to
ensure that there is peace in the oil rich region.
He made this disclosure on Wednesday when he
visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the
Presidential villa, Abuja.
Recall that the militant group had few days ago stated
that it backed out of its plan to declare Niger Delta
Republic following the intervention of Jonathan and
other leaders from the community.
Addressing State House Correspondents shortly after
the meeting which lasted for 20 minutes, Jonathan
said it was appropriate for him and traditional rulers
in the area to mediate in the matter.
According to him, “It’s not just about me but about all
the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that
are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in
touch to see that peace reigns in the country. Those of
you that have followed my talks when I was here, my
emphasis is that we need a United Nigeria and I
always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about
the oil.
“So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria
nobody notices them. We are great because of our
size, the human resources we have, the diversity we
have, if we fragmentize the country into small
components, we will be forgotten by the World.
“That has been my focal position and without peace
there cannot be development anywhere in the world.
We are all working collectively to see that issues are
resolved.”
Speaking on his mission to the Villa, he said he was
there to brief President Buhari on his emergence as
the leader of African Union, AU elections monitoring
team to Zambia.
“You asked why I came to see the President today, one
key thing is that having been a head of a government,
a former president you become a state property.
That’s the privilege you have but every privilege has
its corresponding responsibility, and once you become
a state property, most of your international
engagement, that has to do with public addresses and
some international assignment becomes a national
assignment, you brief the President.
“Even when I was here the former presidents used to
do that and see me. I have been coming. Most times, I
come in the night that’s why you don’t see me. I came
to brief the President about some of my engagements.
As you are aware, I will be leading the AU elections
monitoring team to Zambia.
I came to brief the President about some of these
external engagements. It is the tradition”, he said.
“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are
too many cases that are in court. It will not be fair to
make comments. I will talk at the appropriate time
when most of these things are resolved”, he said.
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