JUST IN: Jonathan Visits Tinubu At Aso Rock, Says Downtrodden Will Suffer If Leaders Fight

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has stressed the need for collaboration among political leaders and former presidents rather than conflict among top leaders, as it is the downtrodden who bear the brunt of such disputes.

He spoke on Friday while fielding questions from State House reporters after a closed door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Jonathan who described himself as a “roving ambassador”, called on political leaders and former presidents to come together so that citizens would not suffer.

When asked about the Supreme Court verdict, he said: “We need to bring all our political leaders including all our former Presidents together, we will not be fighting, if top leaders continue fighting they will not suffer that much but the down trodden will suffer. And we want to end that tension so we move forward.”

Jonathan, who came to brief President Tinubu on his regional, continental, and international assignments, said he used the visit to congratulate him on his victory at the apex court.

He said: “I have been involved in a number of things in West Africa and Africa. In fact, tomorrow (Saturday), I will be in Kenya and on the 14th of November I will be in Liberia, so I am like a roving Ambassador seeing how we can bring peace to the subregion and the continent.

“My visit would have taken place since last week but it couldn’t hold but today it has now coincided with the judgement of the Supreme Court judgement of yesterday (Thursday). So, it is an opportunity for me to also congratulate Mr President.

“We talked alot about the country. You will see more of me because there are certain things we discussed and the country must move forward. Elections are over and so we must move forward.”

On how Nigeria could lead Africa with the successful transition of power, Jonathan said: “That is what all Africans are saying, I had a programme on democracy dialogue and Prof Lumumba spoke there, he emphasized the need for Nigeria to take a lead in Africa. Yes, we have challenges economically now but we still have what it takes to lead Africa.

“These are some of the issues I will continue to have conversations with Mr President, including briefing him on all my foreign programmes. They are not personal issues, traditionally, former presidents when they go outside the country for continental or regional programmes ,and even some international. When you come home, you brief the president that is the tradition.

“When you see me here, what we come to do, to move Nigeria forward and to move ECOWAS forward and to move African continent forward.”

(This story contains information from Daily Trust)