Abuja, Nigeria – Buba Galadima, a prominent figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has voiced his regret regarding his earlier criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Galadima stated that while he was once a vocal critic, the worsening insecurity across Nigeria has prompted him to re-evaluate his previous stance. He now considers Jonathan’s handling of national security to be superior to those who came after him.

Galadima’s Shift in Perspective

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, the NNPP chieftain shared his candid reflections. He admitted his strong disapproval of Jonathan’s presidency at the time. “I didn’t know that God would disgrace me to show me that Jonathan was even a saint,” Galadima lamented. He added that Jonathan was “a better administrator than those that follow him.”

Galadima specifically recalled events leading up to the 2015 general elections. He highlighted Jonathan’s decision to postpone the polls for six weeks. This was done to address the escalating insecurity across the country. According to Galadima, Jonathan brought in mercenaries during this period.

These mercenaries effectively stabilized Nigeria. This allowed elections to proceed in every polling unit nationwide. Galadima praised this proactive measure.

Contrasting Administrations on Security

Galadima argued that the current government would likely not take similar decisive action if faced with such a crisis. He alleged that they might instead allow insecurity to worsen. This, he claimed, could be a strategy to manipulate the electoral process.

He drew a stark contrast with Jonathan’s approach. “Jonathan stopped that election,” Galadima noted. He believed Jonathan understood that a free and fair election would likely prevent an incumbent from securing a second term. Yet, he prioritized national stability.

“He’s an educated man with PhD,” Galadima stressed, acknowledging Jonathan’s academic background. “He knows that, but because of his humane nature, he postponed the election for six weeks.” This decision, driven by humanity, brought in mercenaries who “stabilized Nigeria” within six weeks. Consequently, elections were held successfully across the nation.