"Nigerians Now Regret Buying Into Anti-Jonathan Narratives, Says Mahdi Shehu"

Table of Contents

• Regret Over Negative Narratives
• Birthday Message to Jonathan
• Acknowledgment of Leadership Style
• Unpopularity of Blackmailers
• Claims of Insecurity
• Silent Lamentation of Nigerians
• Birthday Wishes

Political commentator Mahdi Shehu states that many Nigerians are now quietly regretting their belief in the negative narratives spread against former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during the lead-up to the 2015 election.

In a birthday message shared on X on Saturday to celebrate Jonathan’s 68th birthday, Shehu portrayed the former president as composed, patient, and someone who prioritized Nigeria's unity over personal gain.

He contended that even those who opposed Jonathan at the time can now recognize his leadership style.

Shehu noted that those who, in his view, orchestrated Jonathan's removal from office have become less popular than he ever was.

He remembered how Jonathan was branded a failure and deemed clueless.

“Those who orchestrated his exit from the Villa are now less popular than he has ever been. They labeled him a failure and clueless, yet the same accusations have become their hallmark.”

“They claimed insecurity defined his administration, while insecurity is now ingrained in their very essence. They accused him of reckless spending, but now they are not only geometrically reckless spenders but also burdened with loans. They called him a minority, but we are now grappling with the callousness exhibited by those from the major ethnic groups of Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, alongside certain compromised minority groups.”

According to Shehu, millions of Nigerians are now reflecting silently and regretting being misled in the past.

“I am confident that, in hindsight, millions of Nigerians are now quietly lamenting and regretting why they were misled by the APC's blackmail narrative concerning Jonathan. Even if those misled Nigerians refuse to apologize to President Jonathan, those with a sense of history, fairness, and conscience will offer their apologies, whether privately or publicly,” Shehu stated.

Shehu concluded his message with birthday greetings to the former president.

“Happy birthday to Jonathan. May you enjoy many more years, allowing you to rejoice as your detractors and blackmailers face the consequences of their actions.”