I AM NOT ON EXILE- FOMER PRESIDENT DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

Nigeria's former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan insisted, yesterday, that he is not on self-exile in Côte d’Ivoire as alleged, friends and family asserted that he had no cause to permanently relocate from the country. Due to his absence in the country for some weeks now, the former president has been accused of going on self-exile by some people. The two reasons why the allegations are going around is that he is running away from the impending clampdown by anti-corruption agencies or that he doesn't want to be involved in the recent crisis haunting his party, The People's Democratic Party.

However, a close political associate, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who spoke to Vanguard after speaking with Dr. Jonathan quoted the former president thus:

“I am not in exile; it is quite unfortunate that anybody is insinuating that I am in exile. I am now a private citizen. Since I left office, this is my second visit to Côte d’Ivoire; I have gone to so many countries in recent times as part of my efforts to promote peace. What I am doing is a global tour since leaving office, and this is my second visit to Côte d’Ivoire. It is unfortunate that anybody should insinuate that I am in exile. I am not in exile. When I finish what I am doing here, I will continue my visit all over the world.”

Engr Mike Ogiasa, a relative of the former president, also reacting to the report said: “it is not true that the former President is on the run. We, his kinsmen trust him. When it is appropriate for him to speak he will speak. Jonathan has not gone into exile. Everybody knows a man of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s calibre will not do that.”
Engineer Ogiasa revealed that Mr Jonathan is in a quiet place writing a book about his leadership experience as president of Nigeria:
“It is reasonable for anybody to realize that the former president will take some time out to write about Nigeria in a book form. If he is not seen for sometime, it means he wants a quiet life. I should expect the former president to take some time out in a very quiet environment without any distraction to put his experience about Nigeria into writing in a book form.”