Jonathan’s kinsmen defend him over comment on 2015 election

The kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State yesterday defended him over his comment on the conduct of the 2015 election.

This followed the criticisms that trailed the interview he granted in a new book entitled “Against the Run of Play” written by the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi.

In the book, Jonathan was said to have spoken about some local and international forces, which worked against him during the polls, including the United States of America, Britain and France.

Rising on the platform of Ogbia Political Forum, the leader, Azibaodusi Maclean Aduba, said they stand by the ex-president in his statement.

They affirmed that some local and international forces took an unusual interest in the presidential election.

Aduba also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of confirming Jonathan’s explanation when he thanked the international community for their role in the elections while receiving a European envoy in 2015.

He said: “While we do not have the full details of the Jonathan’s interview, which formed part of the book, we are delighted that the ex-president has come out with the details of what transpired in the build up, during and immediately after the 2015 general elections.

“We are aware that some people are already dismissive of the interview, pretending to be roiled by what they described as an attempt by Jonathan to clean up his image.

“Such people would prefer that the former president remains silent while the forces of evil continue to heap odium on his image and public records, despite all he did to preserve our democratic institutions and ensure that peace reigns in our dear fatherland.”

Aduba stressed that there was nothing new in what Jonathan said in the interview as far as national and international conspiracy against him was concerned.

He alleged that Jonathan’s signing of the anti-gay marriage bill made the Barack Obama administration to work against him.