Former President Goodluck Jonathan reached a milestone of 60 years
yesterday in his earth’s journey, with congratulatory messages from
President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples
Democratic Party and notably, former senate president David Mark.
What was conspicuously missing today are the usual adulatory newspaper
advertisements from the large army of contractors, politicians, public
officials and others.
They seemed to have abandoned Jonathan to his fate as they failed to
sing his praises the way they did when Jonathan marked his 57th birthday
in 2014,The News Agency Of Nigeria reports.
Only ThisDay newspaper published six advertisements. They were from a
forum of Jonathan’s former ministers, Governor Nyesom Wike, His His
Royal Highness A.J. Turner, Architect Reuben Okoya and Engineer David
Omonibeke and President Azikel Group,
There was no advert in The Punch, arguably Nigeria’s largest selling newspaper.
The Vanguard published one advert from Governor Seriake Dickson.
The Guardian published none.
The Nation also published an advert from Azikel Group, whose chairman,
Dr Eruani Azibapu Godbless prayed in his birthday message for God’s
infinite mercies and blessings to Jonathan.
He also prayed for Jonathan’s continuous strength, good health and wisdom ‘all the days of his life”.
Jonathan’s abandonment by his friends was noticeable as far back as
November 2015, the first birthday Jonathan marked out of office since
2010, when he succeeded former President Umaru Yar’Adua.
In 2015, Jonathan was 58, a few months after he was ousted by President Muhammadu Buhari, in the election of that year.
And what played out today also occurred then: the reticence of the
friends of power : the politicians, hangers on, business barons, social
and political groups.
Jonathan actually saw all this coming when he told the world, just some
days before he handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari that he had
been abandoned by all those he perceived to be his friends, as the
phones stopped ringing.
NAN