Former President Goodluck Jonathan reached a milestone of 60 years yesterday in his earth’s journey, with congratulatory messages from President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and notably, former senate president David Mark.
What was conspicuously missing today are the usual adulatory newspaper advertisements from the large army of contractors, politicians, public officials and others.
They seemed to have abandoned Jonathan to his fate as they failed to sing his praises the way they did when Jonathan marked his 57th birthday in 2014,The News Agency Of Nigeria reports.
Only ThisDay newspaper published six advertisements. They were from a forum of Jonathan’s former ministers, Governor Nyesom Wike, His His Royal Highness A.J. Turner, Architect Reuben Okoya and Engineer David Omonibeke and President Azikel Group,
There was no advert in The Punch, arguably Nigeria’s largest selling newspaper.
The Vanguard published one advert from Governor Seriake Dickson.
The Guardian published none.
The Nation also published an advert from Azikel Group, whose chairman, Dr Eruani Azibapu Godbless prayed in his birthday message for God’s infinite mercies and blessings to Jonathan.
He also prayed for Jonathan’s continuous strength, good health and wisdom ‘all the days of his life”.
Jonathan’s abandonment by his friends was noticeable as far back as November 2015, the first birthday Jonathan marked out of office since 2010, when he succeeded former President Umaru Yar’Adua.
In 2015, Jonathan was 58, a few months after he was ousted by President Muhammadu Buhari, in the election of that year.
And what played out today also occurred then: the reticence of the friends of power : the politicians, hangers on, business barons, social and political groups.
Jonathan actually saw all this coming when he told the world, just some days before he handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari that he had been abandoned by all those he perceived to be his friends, as the phones stopped ringing.
NAN
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
