Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat in the 2015 presidential election, while sharply criticising ex-leaders Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari over their records in office.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Shehu said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat during the 2015 Nigerian presidential election would earn him a favourable place in history.
He acknowledged Jonathan had “character flaws” but argued that history would judge him kindly for relinquishing power in what he described as a move that helped prevent bloodshed.
“President Jonathan has his own character flaw, but history will be kind and fair to him for surrendering power at the point of blackmail so as to save the blood of innocent Nigerians,” Shehu wrote.
Shehu, however, criticised Obasanjo in strong terms, accusing the former president of acting out of selfish motives and negative intentions in his political engagements.
“Obasanjo will continue to harvest evil for evil, treachery for treachery, hate for hate, greed for greed and selfishness for selfishness,” he stated.
On Buhari’s administration, Shehu said historians would closely examine his eight-year tenure and its impact on the country.
“No matter the volumes written on PMB, historians will write and document how Buhari’s eight years of stewardship will continue to be a reference point of empty, false and fluid claims of honesty, ineptitude, zero capacity and how to preside over the destruction of a nation,” he said.
He also questioned Obasanjo’s recent interventions in national affairs, alleging that they were not motivated by national interest.
“Anything being championed by Obasanjo is neither for God nor for country. Beneath it are articulated venom of treachery, hate and vindictiveness,” Shehu added.
