Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua wrote a letter to allow him (Jonathan) to take over while Yar’Adua was sick but the letter was never sent to the National Assembly.
In an interview with the Rainbow Book Club, Jonathan spoke about this while discussing his book, My Transition Hours. He said someone was supposed to deliver the letter but refused to do so.
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“That letter was written,” Jonathan said. “But the person who was given the letter didn’t take it to the National Assembly. Yar’Adua was very sick and couldn’t handle things anymore.”
Because the letter wasn’t sent, the country entered a serious constitutional crisis. Jonathan, who was Vice President at the time, couldn’t officially take over as President.
Jonathan explained that the Nigerian President has two roles as head of government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The Vice President can take over the first role, but not the second unless officially made acting president.
He said the situation caused great tension across the country, especially between the North and South, and between Muslims and Christians. There were even rumors of a military coup.
“The country was very tense,” Jonathan said. “People talked about a possible coup every day.”
He also said people around him were worried he might be attacked. Some friends even told him to leave the State House for his safety.
“They told me, ‘Come and sleep in my guest house,’” he said. “But I refused. I said if anyone wants to kill me, let them do it in the State House so Nigerians will know. I have done nothing wrong.”
Jonathan said he stayed calm during that difficult time.
“I wasn’t worried. I remained calm, even with everything going on,” he said.
Eventually, the National Assembly used a special legal action called the doctrine of necessity to officially make Jonathan the Acting President. This helped bring the country back to normal.