Amidst controversy over presidential ambition, Jonathan jets out of Nigeria

Former President Goodluck Jonathan left Nigeria on Tuesday for Dakar, Senegal, to take part in a sub-regional debate on preserving democratic ideals in West Africa.

Ikechukwu Eze, the former President’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement made on Tuesday.

The West African Elders Forum, according to Eze, organized the event.

Jonathan’s visit comes amid debate over his presidential ambitions on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Eze in a statement titled, ‘Ex-President Jonathan arrives Dakar for sub-regional dialogue on democracy, peace’, said Jonathan who is the chair of WAEF would be declaring the event open alongside Senegalese President, Macky Sall.

Jonathan’s spokesman said, “The two-day programme, beginning on May 12, 2009, will provide the opportunity for former heads of state and other thought leaders in the sub-region to review recent socio-political developments, identify challenges and offer some recommendations that would enhance credible elections and peaceful transition of power in the sub-region.

“Other notable leaders from the sub-region expected at the event include former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, former United Nations Special Representative to West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Thomas Ouedraogo.

“Participants at the dialogue will be focusing on many issues affecting the growth of democracy in the sub-region including constitutional term limits, credible elections as well as the return of military coups and unconstitutional change of government.

“They will also examine processes of galvanizing and harnessing subregional and regional responses to the socio-political challenges affecting West Africa’s democratic progress and advancement.

“Since its inauguration last year, WAEF, an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, has continued to champion causes that promote, peace, democracy and good governance in the sub-region.

“Two months ago, the Forum made up of mainly former Presidents and prime ministers from the sub-region convened a strategy meeting where they shared their thoughts on the democratic trends in West Africa.

“During the inauguration of the Forum in March last year, Dr Jonathan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and six other former West African leaders resolved to collectively exert their enormous goodwill towards ensuring peace in West African nations, by promoting credible elections and good governance, to prevent the nations from descending into crises.

“Other former Presidents who participated in the virtual event where a mechanism targeted at preventing and resolving election-related conflicts and maintaining stability in the sub-region was established include Pedro Pires Cabo Verde, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberia, Amos Sawyer Liberia, Ernest Bai Koroma Sierra Leone as well as former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mrs Aminata Traore, former Senegalese Prime Minister.”