Not a single Nigerian was sent to prison for criticizing me – Goodluck Jonathan

igeria’s immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has stated that there was no political prisoner under his administration.

GEJ made the comment while giving the keynote address at the annual Merit Awards Dinner of the Nigerian Lawyers Association of the United States of America yesterday, October 29.

President Jonathan and awardees at the event. Photo credit: Vanguard

According to the ex-president, he ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after speech while his government lasted.

“That is why no matter what any critic said about me, I ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after the speech,” Jonathan told his audience which included former Anambra state governor, Mr Peter Obi.

Former Anambra governor, Peter Obi; GEJ and the President of the NLA Nexus Sea. Photo credit: Vanguard

He continued: “Under my watch not a single Nigerian was sent to prison because of anything he or she wrote or said about me or about the administration that I headed.

“Nigeria had no political prisoners under my Administration and we certainly did not have any prisoners of conscience because we ourselves ensured that we acted according to our conscience in all we did.  

“You in the diaspora can attest to the fact that Nigeria had no political exile. Not only did I take a stance to allow people express their opinions without let or fear, we also enacted the Freedom of Information Act and by that, we tore the veil of secrecy covering governance.” 

The former president urged the to help preserve democratic institutions in their domain and also in Nigeria.

The highlight of the evening was when Jonathan was honoured for his efforts to promote democracy by the City of New York which proclaimed him as a democratic icon.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Abibakar Habu Mu’azu who was the campaign coordinator for Dr Jonathan in Gombe state has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mu’azu  picked up his APC membership card at his Kashere ward in Akko local government area in Gombe state recently.