By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Goodluck Jonathan |
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the core of Nigerian politics is built on betrayal. Speaking at the 70th birthday celebration of Mike Oghiadomhe, a former Edo State deputy governor and his Chief of Staff, Jonathan stated that most politicians in the country are fundamentally untrustworthy.
Reflecting on the historic 2015 presidential election where he was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan revealed he was a victim of severe betrayal. “Politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals,” he said. “I witnessed a lot of betrayal during the 2015 election. You find it difficult to find somebody who says the same thing in the morning, afternoon, and evening.”
Jonathan used the occasion to highlight the rare virtue of loyalty in the political arena, singling out Mike Oghiadomhe as one of his most trusted allies. He praised Oghiadomhe as “somebody whose word you can take to the bank,” a stark contrast to “most politicians” who constantly change their positions. He even credited Oghiadomhe as being one who would "take a bullet" on his behalf.
This candid speech comes amid widespread speculation about the 2027 presidential election. Reports suggest opposition groups are wooing Jonathan to contest and unseat the current president, Bola Tinubu. His comments on betrayal are seen by many as a poignant commentary on the volatile and unpredictable nature of political alliances in Nigeria.