Ex-President Jonathan says a Yar’Adua aide blocked a signed power transfer letter, triggering Nigeria’s 2010 constitutional crisis and coup fears.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua signed a letter transferring power to him during his illness, but the document never reached the National Assembly because an unnamed aide withheld it.
Speaking in an interview with the Rainbow Book Club, Jonathan said the development plunged Nigeria into a constitutional crisis. “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,” he said.
Jonathan said while he could perform executive duties as vice president, he lacked the constitutional authority to act as commander-in-chief.
He described the period as deeply tense, with coup rumours rife: “Every day I was hearing about coup.”
The National Assembly later invoked the doctrine of necessity to formally make him acting president.
Despite safety concerns, Jonathan said he refused to leave the State House. “If anybody wants to kill me, it’s better you kill me in the State House,” he said.