Nigeria’s former leader, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied reports that he is currently on exile in Cote d’Ivoire.
The media was awash with reports on Monday that the ex-president, who was supposed to have returned to the country after spending two months abroad on tour and visiting his children, changed his mind after getting wind of plans by the present administration to arrest him on arrival over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars during his five year reign.
According to the report, which was published by a national newspaper, Jonathan reached out to a few West African leaders including President Alassane Outtara of Cote d’Ivoire, who offered him a safe haven in that Francophone country until the coast is clear for him to return to Nigeria.
But ex-President Jonathan yesterday said it was all false, insisting that he served the country “very well”.
He said: “I’m not on exile. I have no cause to go on exile. It is a wicked and malicious report.
“I was Vice President for two years and President for six years. I did everything I could and I served my country very well. This is what they keep saying anytime I’m outside the country. I was in Ecuador; they said I was on exile. This is my second time in Cote d’Ivoire and I’m rounding off my visit.
“It is a wicked attempt to link me with the renewed Niger Delta crisis”.
