Jonathan: Yar’Adua Signed Power Transfer Letter — But It Was Hidden
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua did sign a letter authorizing him to act in his absence during his prolonged illness — but the letter never made it to the National Assembly.
Speaking in an interview with the Rainbow Book Club while discussing his memoir My Transition Hours, Jonathan said the letter was deliberately withheld by the person entrusted with submitting it.
“That letter was written. But the person who the letter was handed over to — I will not mention the name — refused to submit it to the national assembly. Yar’Adua became so ill that he had no control of issues,” he said.
Yar’Adua’s failure to formally transfer power left the country in a deep constitutional crisis, as Jonathan, then vice president, was unable to fully assume presidential responsibilities.
“The president of Nigeria has two main responsibilities. First, you are the chief executive, like a prime minister — that the vice president can assume,” Jonathan explained.
“But there was no commander-in-chief, and there’s nothing like acting commander-in-chief. You are either a commander-in-chief or not.”
He described the period as one of the most difficult in Nigeria’s democratic journey, marred by ethnic and religious tensions, and fears of a possible coup.
“The country was tense. Under this north-south divide, Christian-Muslim divide, it was really tense. Every day I was hearing about coup,” Jonathan said.
He also noted the political complications surrounding the presidency at the time. “But the health issue came up, and that was the problem. And that is why even to allow me to act was an issue.”
He revealed that close associates were concerned for his safety and suggested he leave the State House for fear of assassination.
“I remember one day, I was still vice president — they had not even moved the doctrine of necessity — and some of my friends came and said, ‘No, you don’t have to sleep here. You have to come and sleep in my guest house,’” he recalled.
“I said, ‘No.’ I will stay in the state house. If anybody wants to kill me, it’s better you kill me in the state house so Nigerians will know that they assassinated me in the state house. They know I have not committed any offence.
“If I go and stay in your guest house and people kill me there, they will now say Indian girls brought apple to kill me. And I wouldn’t want that kind of story.”
Despite the tension and uncertainty, Jonathan said he maintained his composure throughout.
“To me, I was not bothered. Really, I was not bothered. And I was very calm. But that was the scenario,” he said.
Ultimately, it took the National Assembly invoking the “doctrine of necessity” to officially name him acting president — a move that helped pull Nigeria back from the brink.
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