President Goodluck Jonathan visited The Presidential Precinct in
Virginia, USA on November 9, 2015. | Flickr/The Presidential Precinct
Renowned
Nollywood movie producer, Dickson Iroegbu has written an open apology
letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan for his involvement in
condemning his government.
Nollywood movie producer, Dickson Iroegbu has written an open apology
letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan for his involvement in
condemning his government.
Iroegbu took to Facebook to express his
regret for involvement in the gang-up against the former president. The
central theme is the current hardship that Nigerians have faced under
the General Muhammadu Buhari regime.
regret for involvement in the gang-up against the former president. The
central theme is the current hardship that Nigerians have faced under
the General Muhammadu Buhari regime.
Read the full letter below:
Dear Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, I
write to apologize on behalf of myself and the many repentant Nigerians
like me who ganged up against your government in 2012.
write to apologize on behalf of myself and the many repentant Nigerians
like me who ganged up against your government in 2012.
Your government’s policy to remove
subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol was
completely misconstrued by us.
subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol was
completely misconstrued by us.
I was personally deceived by my
overzealous comradely towards millions of Nigerians who had traveled to
various locations at that time to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
I was particularly concerned about NDIGBO who traditionally returned
home in droves during this period every year.
overzealous comradely towards millions of Nigerians who had traveled to
various locations at that time to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
I was particularly concerned about NDIGBO who traditionally returned
home in droves during this period every year.
Sir, like millions of Nigerians I worked
for your victory at the polls in 2011, but I considered the untoward
hardship the removal of subsidy on the 1st of January 2012 as
insensitive. It was simply seen as going to inflict serious hardship on
the millions who voted you to power; hence we arose against it.
for your victory at the polls in 2011, but I considered the untoward
hardship the removal of subsidy on the 1st of January 2012 as
insensitive. It was simply seen as going to inflict serious hardship on
the millions who voted you to power; hence we arose against it.
Yes I did join the protest, but my dear
Sir, I did not consider the long term positive effect it would have on
the economy of our beloved nation at that particular moment. We joined
forces with the NLC and the TUC, and alongside your political enemies we
mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in protest across the nation.
Sir, I did not consider the long term positive effect it would have on
the economy of our beloved nation at that particular moment. We joined
forces with the NLC and the TUC, and alongside your political enemies we
mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in protest across the nation.
I matched with my colleagues from my
then abode in Aguda through Surulere (National Stadium), to Ojelegba,
through Maryland, to Ojota where we met a marmot crowd. The police and
all other law enforcement agents under your democratic leadership were
very civil with us; we were never harassed or molested nor killed. In
fact a certain overzealous police man who accidentally shot at a young
man in Mushin area in Lagos during that protest was not only dismissed
from service, but he was also prosecuted and jailed.
then abode in Aguda through Surulere (National Stadium), to Ojelegba,
through Maryland, to Ojota where we met a marmot crowd. The police and
all other law enforcement agents under your democratic leadership were
very civil with us; we were never harassed or molested nor killed. In
fact a certain overzealous police man who accidentally shot at a young
man in Mushin area in Lagos during that protest was not only dismissed
from service, but he was also prosecuted and jailed.
SIR, YOU ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN AFRICA!
There in Ojota, Pastor Tunde Bakare and
Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and Seun Kuti, and many many others were
there. Even my brother Okey Bakassi was there too! We sang and danced,
we gyrated, we cooked and slept there in the open arena protected by the
police, the civil defence, etc.
Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and Seun Kuti, and many many others were
there. Even my brother Okey Bakassi was there too! We sang and danced,
we gyrated, we cooked and slept there in the open arena protected by the
police, the civil defence, etc.
The next day we woke up matched on to
Ikoyi and converged at Falamo bridge, where Ali Baba, Prof. Pat Utomi,
and the rich men children were gathered – we had matched through YABA
and IDUMOTA, chanting the resurrected songs of King Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
We called you names like, the shameless shoeless one, the animal in
human skin, innumerable and unprintable names.
Ikoyi and converged at Falamo bridge, where Ali Baba, Prof. Pat Utomi,
and the rich men children were gathered – we had matched through YABA
and IDUMOTA, chanting the resurrected songs of King Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
We called you names like, the shameless shoeless one, the animal in
human skin, innumerable and unprintable names.
Even when you came out in a nationwide
broadcast and addressed the people as President and father of the nation
explaining why you took that unpopular decision, urging the masses to
understand and bear with you for a while, we said no way! We remained
adamant! We booed you! We insulted you.
broadcast and addressed the people as President and father of the nation
explaining why you took that unpopular decision, urging the masses to
understand and bear with you for a while, we said no way! We remained
adamant! We booed you! We insulted you.
Mr. President Sir, please find it in
your heart to forgive us. We did not know what we were doing then; but
we understand better now. The same people who deceived us have turned
around and increase the pump price through the back door, in the guise
of subsidy removal. They have inflicted hardship on the Nigerian masses
you love so much.
your heart to forgive us. We did not know what we were doing then; but
we understand better now. The same people who deceived us have turned
around and increase the pump price through the back door, in the guise
of subsidy removal. They have inflicted hardship on the Nigerian masses
you love so much.
You were not perfect, but you were a
loving father to all of us, you were president and C-in-C to the North,
South, West and the East, but we vilified and treated you with
disrespect and ignominy. Sir, the economy that flourished under your
watch as President which positioned us as number one economy in Africa
and one of 25 fastest growing economies in the world is now at its
lowest ebb in just one year of misrule. In just one year of your exit
Nigeria our beloved country has become a shadow of herself.
loving father to all of us, you were president and C-in-C to the North,
South, West and the East, but we vilified and treated you with
disrespect and ignominy. Sir, the economy that flourished under your
watch as President which positioned us as number one economy in Africa
and one of 25 fastest growing economies in the world is now at its
lowest ebb in just one year of misrule. In just one year of your exit
Nigeria our beloved country has become a shadow of herself.
The picture is so gloomy, inflation rate
is so high! The masses cannot even put food on their tables, darkness
everywhere, electricity generation is at all-time very lowest – killings
and maiming, evil looms; our nation Nigeria is under attack.
is so high! The masses cannot even put food on their tables, darkness
everywhere, electricity generation is at all-time very lowest – killings
and maiming, evil looms; our nation Nigeria is under attack.
Maybe you could just say a word of
prayer sir, “May Nigeria not erupt in flames and violence under the
current draconian administration” – Sir I say that because there is so
much hunger in the land, and as they say, a hungry man is an angry man! A
HUNGRY PEOPLE NA CONFUSION.
prayer sir, “May Nigeria not erupt in flames and violence under the
current draconian administration” – Sir I say that because there is so
much hunger in the land, and as they say, a hungry man is an angry man! A
HUNGRY PEOPLE NA CONFUSION.
Please find it in your heart to forgive
and forget, for indeed we ganged up against you wrongly. We didn’t know
that we were doing wrong to our-own-selves. May God bless you with long
life and good health.”
and forget, for indeed we ganged up against you wrongly. We didn’t know
that we were doing wrong to our-own-selves. May God bless you with long
life and good health.”
