My Transition - Jonathan Ebele REMADE (B), page 11
know personal information about family members, especially the
women behind the man. In this personal journey that I am taking you
on, how could I not share two great women in my life who have
loved and supported me unconditionally throughout time. They are
extraordinary women, and it is my hope that the Nigerian woman
will continue to rise to the opportunities that we are committed to
place before them.
Let me give you a little background of the Nigerian culture, which
may be difficult for the Western world to conceive or even
understand. In many parts of Africa, the culture of early marriage
118
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
inhibits women from rising to the same level as men. Some traditions
believe that women should stay at home, wait patiently for the man
who works and provides for them. Some Africans think that women
should stay confined to the kitchen, and are there to make food for
their
But the good news is that women in Africa are starting to come into
their own, and steps are being taken to overcome this deep tradition.
I appointed many women in my cabinet, and some also held very
sensitive positions in the government. I can truthfully say that they
did wonderfully well.
My mother's generation knew no other way, but today's women of
st
the 21 century are speaking out for change. My wife will talk about
what is happening in Nigeria as she continues to support all woman
of Africa, but first I want you to hear from my mother.
Mama President Speaks
“My son always had a disposition for peace and always remained
calm. No other parent ever came up to me to say that my child got
involved in anything bad. Even though we were poor, he never
complained. In his political biographies, a big deal was always made
to him having to attend school without shoes because we were so
poor, to set the record straight, the reason was that none of his mates
119
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
went to school with shoes on, so why would he? He was a good boy,
and to my knowledge he never stole anything, he always humbly
accepted the little things we had to offer him. He always remained
focused on school and learning. When he was in boarding school,
seniors made him do all the housework, they took advantage of him,
and I felt his peers were bullying him. I remember what he told me
when I asked if he wanted to leave.
“No, I don't want to leave my school, it's proper training, and the
kids who think they're using me, they are teaching me.”
“Hearing that, I was so proud of him and got emotional. Even today
to believe that my little boy grew up to become President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria gets me emotional. I did not teach my
son peace, but his father was a man of peace also. But everything he
did in life was smooth and seemed rather effortless. He was never a
person to go out to a nightclub because he knew that mama was
poor, and we had no money to live that kind of life. My son and I had
a great bond when he was growing up, but he's not the type of
person to complain about anything. Nobody could have predicted
that my son would one day be President of Nigeria.
“I was aware of the problems the President faced because I lived
with him in Abuja. I saw and felt his daily stress, and the challenges
having to face the Boko Haram insurgency. When I learned that my
120
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
son had lost the election and conceded defeat, I was happy and felt
relieved, because now he could leave this stressful life and come
home alive. Once again he demonstrated his commitment to peace,
and if there was one person who could do this, it was my son . . . I
believe my boy is predestined to fight for peace, all the way from
conception!”
The First Lady speaks
“The President started a discussion with the women of
Bayelsa State, he awarded them positions of work and
gave me the platform and privilege to promote women.
He came out and said that he was the lover of women and
wanted women to get more involved.”
~ Mama Peace
My wife over the years has earned the title of Mama Peace for her
tireless and selfless support of women. The women of Nigeria gave
her this nickname, and it has stuck! You will read in my Coming
Home Chapter all about the exciting, colorful, enthusiastic reception
that we were given by so many people .Women lined the streets; they
waited for hours, and now reading about her efforts and
commitment you will understand why the First Lady earned this title!
Here are her words: “I think today, Nigerian women are beginning to
feel more and believe differently, they want to do the same thing men
121
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
can do, but our traditions have held them back. When I first entered
into politics with my husband, I saw our women maltreated, and I
worried about them and wanted to be of assistance. Due to our
strong tradition, I went to the men and begged, yes begged, them to
allow women to do outside work.
“ When Jonathan became governor, I felt it was the right time for me
to plead, yes plead, with my husband to help the woman find their
voices. But at the same time I had to make sure that the women
remained obedient to their husbands, no matter their position, and
no matter how tired they may be, their job was always to prepare and
cook dinner for their men.
“I worked with the women of Nigeria to empower them on this
journey. I encouraged them to approach their husbands in a soft,
respectful manner to succeed. We started with the beautification of
Bayelsa, and more than 5000 women came out to plant trees
throughout the state. They also began to sweep the streets, and my
husband encouraged them to seek the employment we offered. I
used my foundation to raise funds, and many people donated a lot of
money to help our projects. In Nigeria, it is very common for women
always to work on farms, so we helped them increase their
production by purchasing farming implements, anything from
tractors to seeds, motorized boats and even fishing nets—for those
who wanted to be fisherwomen.
122
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
As we grew, we knew women required education for change, so I
started a free education program for girls; my husband was in full
support of this. My office was soon set up as a counseling center for
girls, and the women who had been working with me encouraged
young girls to attend school. When Jonathan became Vice-
President, we moved to the center in Abuja, and with the help of my
foundation, we started the Sweet Kitchen Program to provide food
for the needy.
Then when he became President, the men were convinced seeing
what was happening and knew Mama Peace was real. They jumped
on board and gradually started supporting our work. After
witnessing how I helped my husband, they encouraged their wives to
see me as a role model. So I decided to form a new foundation called,
“Women for Change” I went to the men in high places and spoke
about handing over a percentage of their power to women. With my
platform as First Lady, I often went to the traditional rulers and
encouraged them to set an example by allowing their daughters to
enter jobs where they had to compete with men for political
Positions The President is a peaceful man, a gentle man.
Nobody can be around him and have any issues, but because of his
kindness, many took advantage of him. I agreed when he conceded,
and I felt a sense of relief. It was the best thing that could have
happened to Nigeria, and you all know by now had he not conceded
123
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
defeat, more than 80% of Christians in the northern part of the
country would have died. God did it for us. We had been in
government for sixteen years, and now we are glad to be home in
peace, and our children will have the chance to live a peace-filled life
in this united country, thanks to the actions of their father. We will
continue our mission as peacemakers, and through the President's
foundation, we look to the future for all of Africa in the crucial years
ahead.”
I will continue to cherish these women for the rest of my life.
124
C H A P T E R
9
“The best thing that I could do was to preserve
Nigeria's unity and ensure a brighter future for
my children, and all children of Nigeria. That
remains my driving force”.
chapter nine
THE CHANGE GAME BEGINS
Even though we were from different political parties, the major
undertaking for me after the election was to demonstrate that our
country was far more important than partisan considerations. My
top priority was for a peaceful Nigeria. So, therefore, my relationship
with General Buhari was more important than a political party. We
needed to relate to the interest of the country to have a handover
that was unique for 2015.
The former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was most
supportive; he encouraged us both to meet on different occasions
with the sole intention of putting Nigeria first. By having these
meetings we created a platform before the formal handover. The
handover was just a ceremony; our meetings were important with
127
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
the emphasis on pushing the country forward. We managed to have
some friendly, productive talks. As part of the change over program,
the incoming and outgoing governments set up a transition team
designed to work together. Initially, there was a big
misunderstanding; the incoming team wanted to bring in
consultants to work with them. I declined the request, assuring them
that when the take-over took place, the government's permanent
secretaries, and directors would stay behind to brief the staff of the
incoming President on all the details. I passionately opposed the idea
knowing that it would send the wrong message and appear like they
were investigating my government while I was still the President!
Coincidentally, I
found out days later that the request didn't come from Buhari but
rather from his overzealous party members. Consequently, both
teams worked together effectively, except for the challenging way of
retrieving detailed information needed to write the handover notes.
It took weeks to gather all the data and statistics from the numerous
agencies and departments of government.
You may be wondering if the transition was difficult for me having
the the presidency? Honestly speaking, it was a mixture of feelings.
On my part, as president, I had no ill feelings because I meant well
and wanted to do the best for my country . Yes, there were some
human errors along the way, as is the case with all leaders. The best
thing that I could do was to preserve Nigeria's unity and ensure a
128
T H E C H A N G E G A M E B E G I N S
brighter future for my children, and all children of Nigeria. That
remains my driving force. My party ruled the country for sixteen
years, definitely, we had economic challenges, but, unfortunately,
people didn't understand clearly that our country has serious
foundational and structural problems. They blame their frustrations
mostly on political actors.
I had no problem with the handover. My biggest concern was
whether the incoming government would go on a persecution spree
of those who supported me. The tremendous burden I carried was
how political development would affect all the people who
supported me. My fear was not necessarily from the incoming
president, but having been a Governor and a President, I was very
aware that many measures come from many different sources on
our continent. Sometimes the intentions of people around you are
unclear, and they take advantage of certain situations. I tried to have
several discussions on this very subject with General Buhari in our
various meetings.
MAY 25, 2015
Two days before handing over the mantle of leadership, I was invited
to an elaborate send-forth event that attracted top Nigerians from all
walks of life and held in Kpaduma Hills, Asokoro, located near
Abuja. The invitation took me by surprise. I thought that people
129
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
were supposed to be running away from someone who had just lost
an election and here I was being honored and celebrated by Daar
Communications .Surprisingly, I had accepted in good faith losing
the elections, but some argued that I was disappointed in those
people I had entrusted with my campaign. That was certainly not the
case. I had no regrets about losing. In any political process, you will
always hear various stories and conspiracies. I remember feeling
most relaxed on the drive out to Kpaduma Hills, knowing that this
event was good for me. I would have a chance to speak directly.
For me, my ambition has always been to see what contribution I can
make for the ordinary people, and that is why their lives are unique to
me and wouldn't do anything that would create a crisis to kill
innocent people. The decision I made was for Nigeria—I could
never be party to diminishing my country. Daar Communications
appreciated my being there. They lined up speakers who made my
evening among whom were their Emeritus Chairman, Chief
Raymond Dokpesi, Prof Jerry Gana,Y inka Odumakin who wished
that my late aide Oronto Douglas were part of this closure,
Mainassara Illo and Senator Ben Obi. There were also good
renditions from musicians especially Eedres Abdul Kareem.
Daar Communications gave me more than they will ever know, for it
helped weave the fabric so necessary for the Transition Hours ahead
of me, and future life as a private citizen.
130
T H E C H A N G E G A M E B E G I N S
MAY 27, 2015
The historic day was quickly arriving. An inspection of the facilities
at the Presidential Villa was scheduled. My Vice President,
President-elect, his Vice President, and myself attended later that
day a small ceremony that took place in the Council Chamber, where
I handed over the briefs collected by my Ministers, Department
Heads, and Agencies of government for the incoming
administration.
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, was first to acknowledge me,
and I was extremely grateful."Since that telephone call you made,”
he began, “you have changed the course of Nigeria's political
history. For that, you have owned yourself a place in our history, for
stabilizing the multiparty democratic system. You have earned the
respect of not only Nigerians but also world leaders..You could have
made things difficult if you wanted to"
The handover of notes presented consisted of our governance
philosophy, strategies, policies, programs and activities of my
administration for the period 2011-2015. In these notes were also
the objectives, targets, tactics, achievements, and challenges of our
key policies and initiatives, as well as the status of commitments and
liabilities of the various MDAs. I spoke with conviction about our
many achievements. I mentioned a few major successes like the
131
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
improved revenue mobilization, electoral reform, revamping of the
railroad system, remodeling of airports, privatization of the power
sector and so on.
I handed over the mission statement and commitment of my
government for the past five years. I wanted it to serve as directions
to help navigate where the country seemed headed.
One other document that I gave to the President-elect was of most
importance to me—and, even more, important than the other hand
over notes. It was a document compiled by an array of distinguished
Nigerians, and it contained the report of the 2014 National
Conference I was clear in asking that this must not be allowed to end
in the dustbin, as it was very close to my heart and represented what I
stand for as I go forward. Let me quickly recap the significance of
the document.
On March 17, 2014, approximately five hundred Nigerians gathered
in Abuja from all walks of life to attend a conference that
government had no influence on in any way. After a very dynamic
women behind the man. In this personal journey that I am taking you
on, how could I not share two great women in my life who have
loved and supported me unconditionally throughout time. They are
extraordinary women, and it is my hope that the Nigerian woman
will continue to rise to the opportunities that we are committed to
place before them.
Let me give you a little background of the Nigerian culture, which
may be difficult for the Western world to conceive or even
understand. In many parts of Africa, the culture of early marriage
118
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
inhibits women from rising to the same level as men. Some traditions
believe that women should stay at home, wait patiently for the man
who works and provides for them. Some Africans think that women
should stay confined to the kitchen, and are there to make food for
their
But the good news is that women in Africa are starting to come into
their own, and steps are being taken to overcome this deep tradition.
I appointed many women in my cabinet, and some also held very
sensitive positions in the government. I can truthfully say that they
did wonderfully well.
My mother's generation knew no other way, but today's women of
st
the 21 century are speaking out for change. My wife will talk about
what is happening in Nigeria as she continues to support all woman
of Africa, but first I want you to hear from my mother.
Mama President Speaks
“My son always had a disposition for peace and always remained
calm. No other parent ever came up to me to say that my child got
involved in anything bad. Even though we were poor, he never
complained. In his political biographies, a big deal was always made
to him having to attend school without shoes because we were so
poor, to set the record straight, the reason was that none of his mates
119
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
went to school with shoes on, so why would he? He was a good boy,
and to my knowledge he never stole anything, he always humbly
accepted the little things we had to offer him. He always remained
focused on school and learning. When he was in boarding school,
seniors made him do all the housework, they took advantage of him,
and I felt his peers were bullying him. I remember what he told me
when I asked if he wanted to leave.
“No, I don't want to leave my school, it's proper training, and the
kids who think they're using me, they are teaching me.”
“Hearing that, I was so proud of him and got emotional. Even today
to believe that my little boy grew up to become President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria gets me emotional. I did not teach my
son peace, but his father was a man of peace also. But everything he
did in life was smooth and seemed rather effortless. He was never a
person to go out to a nightclub because he knew that mama was
poor, and we had no money to live that kind of life. My son and I had
a great bond when he was growing up, but he's not the type of
person to complain about anything. Nobody could have predicted
that my son would one day be President of Nigeria.
“I was aware of the problems the President faced because I lived
with him in Abuja. I saw and felt his daily stress, and the challenges
having to face the Boko Haram insurgency. When I learned that my
120
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
son had lost the election and conceded defeat, I was happy and felt
relieved, because now he could leave this stressful life and come
home alive. Once again he demonstrated his commitment to peace,
and if there was one person who could do this, it was my son . . . I
believe my boy is predestined to fight for peace, all the way from
conception!”
The First Lady speaks
“The President started a discussion with the women of
Bayelsa State, he awarded them positions of work and
gave me the platform and privilege to promote women.
He came out and said that he was the lover of women and
wanted women to get more involved.”
~ Mama Peace
My wife over the years has earned the title of Mama Peace for her
tireless and selfless support of women. The women of Nigeria gave
her this nickname, and it has stuck! You will read in my Coming
Home Chapter all about the exciting, colorful, enthusiastic reception
that we were given by so many people .Women lined the streets; they
waited for hours, and now reading about her efforts and
commitment you will understand why the First Lady earned this title!
Here are her words: “I think today, Nigerian women are beginning to
feel more and believe differently, they want to do the same thing men
121
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
can do, but our traditions have held them back. When I first entered
into politics with my husband, I saw our women maltreated, and I
worried about them and wanted to be of assistance. Due to our
strong tradition, I went to the men and begged, yes begged, them to
allow women to do outside work.
“ When Jonathan became governor, I felt it was the right time for me
to plead, yes plead, with my husband to help the woman find their
voices. But at the same time I had to make sure that the women
remained obedient to their husbands, no matter their position, and
no matter how tired they may be, their job was always to prepare and
cook dinner for their men.
“I worked with the women of Nigeria to empower them on this
journey. I encouraged them to approach their husbands in a soft,
respectful manner to succeed. We started with the beautification of
Bayelsa, and more than 5000 women came out to plant trees
throughout the state. They also began to sweep the streets, and my
husband encouraged them to seek the employment we offered. I
used my foundation to raise funds, and many people donated a lot of
money to help our projects. In Nigeria, it is very common for women
always to work on farms, so we helped them increase their
production by purchasing farming implements, anything from
tractors to seeds, motorized boats and even fishing nets—for those
who wanted to be fisherwomen.
122
T H E W O M E N B E H I N D T H E M A N
As we grew, we knew women required education for change, so I
started a free education program for girls; my husband was in full
support of this. My office was soon set up as a counseling center for
girls, and the women who had been working with me encouraged
young girls to attend school. When Jonathan became Vice-
President, we moved to the center in Abuja, and with the help of my
foundation, we started the Sweet Kitchen Program to provide food
for the needy.
Then when he became President, the men were convinced seeing
what was happening and knew Mama Peace was real. They jumped
on board and gradually started supporting our work. After
witnessing how I helped my husband, they encouraged their wives to
see me as a role model. So I decided to form a new foundation called,
“Women for Change” I went to the men in high places and spoke
about handing over a percentage of their power to women. With my
platform as First Lady, I often went to the traditional rulers and
encouraged them to set an example by allowing their daughters to
enter jobs where they had to compete with men for political
Positions The President is a peaceful man, a gentle man.
Nobody can be around him and have any issues, but because of his
kindness, many took advantage of him. I agreed when he conceded,
and I felt a sense of relief. It was the best thing that could have
happened to Nigeria, and you all know by now had he not conceded
123
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
defeat, more than 80% of Christians in the northern part of the
country would have died. God did it for us. We had been in
government for sixteen years, and now we are glad to be home in
peace, and our children will have the chance to live a peace-filled life
in this united country, thanks to the actions of their father. We will
continue our mission as peacemakers, and through the President's
foundation, we look to the future for all of Africa in the crucial years
ahead.”
I will continue to cherish these women for the rest of my life.
124
C H A P T E R
9
“The best thing that I could do was to preserve
Nigeria's unity and ensure a brighter future for
my children, and all children of Nigeria. That
remains my driving force”.
chapter nine
THE CHANGE GAME BEGINS
Even though we were from different political parties, the major
undertaking for me after the election was to demonstrate that our
country was far more important than partisan considerations. My
top priority was for a peaceful Nigeria. So, therefore, my relationship
with General Buhari was more important than a political party. We
needed to relate to the interest of the country to have a handover
that was unique for 2015.
The former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was most
supportive; he encouraged us both to meet on different occasions
with the sole intention of putting Nigeria first. By having these
meetings we created a platform before the formal handover. The
handover was just a ceremony; our meetings were important with
127
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
the emphasis on pushing the country forward. We managed to have
some friendly, productive talks. As part of the change over program,
the incoming and outgoing governments set up a transition team
designed to work together. Initially, there was a big
misunderstanding; the incoming team wanted to bring in
consultants to work with them. I declined the request, assuring them
that when the take-over took place, the government's permanent
secretaries, and directors would stay behind to brief the staff of the
incoming President on all the details. I passionately opposed the idea
knowing that it would send the wrong message and appear like they
were investigating my government while I was still the President!
Coincidentally, I
found out days later that the request didn't come from Buhari but
rather from his overzealous party members. Consequently, both
teams worked together effectively, except for the challenging way of
retrieving detailed information needed to write the handover notes.
It took weeks to gather all the data and statistics from the numerous
agencies and departments of government.
You may be wondering if the transition was difficult for me having
the the presidency? Honestly speaking, it was a mixture of feelings.
On my part, as president, I had no ill feelings because I meant well
and wanted to do the best for my country . Yes, there were some
human errors along the way, as is the case with all leaders. The best
thing that I could do was to preserve Nigeria's unity and ensure a
128
T H E C H A N G E G A M E B E G I N S
brighter future for my children, and all children of Nigeria. That
remains my driving force. My party ruled the country for sixteen
years, definitely, we had economic challenges, but, unfortunately,
people didn't understand clearly that our country has serious
foundational and structural problems. They blame their frustrations
mostly on political actors.
I had no problem with the handover. My biggest concern was
whether the incoming government would go on a persecution spree
of those who supported me. The tremendous burden I carried was
how political development would affect all the people who
supported me. My fear was not necessarily from the incoming
president, but having been a Governor and a President, I was very
aware that many measures come from many different sources on
our continent. Sometimes the intentions of people around you are
unclear, and they take advantage of certain situations. I tried to have
several discussions on this very subject with General Buhari in our
various meetings.
MAY 25, 2015
Two days before handing over the mantle of leadership, I was invited
to an elaborate send-forth event that attracted top Nigerians from all
walks of life and held in Kpaduma Hills, Asokoro, located near
Abuja. The invitation took me by surprise. I thought that people
129
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
were supposed to be running away from someone who had just lost
an election and here I was being honored and celebrated by Daar
Communications .Surprisingly, I had accepted in good faith losing
the elections, but some argued that I was disappointed in those
people I had entrusted with my campaign. That was certainly not the
case. I had no regrets about losing. In any political process, you will
always hear various stories and conspiracies. I remember feeling
most relaxed on the drive out to Kpaduma Hills, knowing that this
event was good for me. I would have a chance to speak directly.
For me, my ambition has always been to see what contribution I can
make for the ordinary people, and that is why their lives are unique to
me and wouldn't do anything that would create a crisis to kill
innocent people. The decision I made was for Nigeria—I could
never be party to diminishing my country. Daar Communications
appreciated my being there. They lined up speakers who made my
evening among whom were their Emeritus Chairman, Chief
Raymond Dokpesi, Prof Jerry Gana,Y inka Odumakin who wished
that my late aide Oronto Douglas were part of this closure,
Mainassara Illo and Senator Ben Obi. There were also good
renditions from musicians especially Eedres Abdul Kareem.
Daar Communications gave me more than they will ever know, for it
helped weave the fabric so necessary for the Transition Hours ahead
of me, and future life as a private citizen.
130
T H E C H A N G E G A M E B E G I N S
MAY 27, 2015
The historic day was quickly arriving. An inspection of the facilities
at the Presidential Villa was scheduled. My Vice President,
President-elect, his Vice President, and myself attended later that
day a small ceremony that took place in the Council Chamber, where
I handed over the briefs collected by my Ministers, Department
Heads, and Agencies of government for the incoming
administration.
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, was first to acknowledge me,
and I was extremely grateful."Since that telephone call you made,”
he began, “you have changed the course of Nigeria's political
history. For that, you have owned yourself a place in our history, for
stabilizing the multiparty democratic system. You have earned the
respect of not only Nigerians but also world leaders..You could have
made things difficult if you wanted to"
The handover of notes presented consisted of our governance
philosophy, strategies, policies, programs and activities of my
administration for the period 2011-2015. In these notes were also
the objectives, targets, tactics, achievements, and challenges of our
key policies and initiatives, as well as the status of commitments and
liabilities of the various MDAs. I spoke with conviction about our
many achievements. I mentioned a few major successes like the
131
M Y T R A N S I T I O N H O U R S
improved revenue mobilization, electoral reform, revamping of the
railroad system, remodeling of airports, privatization of the power
sector and so on.
I handed over the mission statement and commitment of my
government for the past five years. I wanted it to serve as directions
to help navigate where the country seemed headed.
One other document that I gave to the President-elect was of most
importance to me—and, even more, important than the other hand
over notes. It was a document compiled by an array of distinguished
Nigerians, and it contained the report of the 2014 National
Conference I was clear in asking that this must not be allowed to end
in the dustbin, as it was very close to my heart and represented what I
stand for as I go forward. Let me quickly recap the significance of
the document.
On March 17, 2014, approximately five hundred Nigerians gathered
in Abuja from all walks of life to attend a conference that
government had no influence on in any way. After a very dynamic
