Since leaving office in May last year, the future of Dr Jonathan has been a hot discussion topic as his government has been probed by the current administration over corruption scandals. Dr Jonathan himself has been named by several members of his government as authorising the disbursement of $2.1bn meant to buy military hardware to political allies.
Known as Dasukigate, the scandal involved members of Dr Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sharing out money budgeted for military purposes to fund his 2015 election campaign. Most of those currently facing trial over the scam, say authorisation to spend the money which was allocated through the office of the national security adviser Col Sambo Dasuki, came from Dr Jonathan himself.
As a result of these claims, it was reported that Dr Jonathan has sought refuge abroad in a bid to evade arrest but he denied these rumours saying he planned to return Nigeria. Yesterday, he answered his critics, saying that at no stage did he plan to flee the country or seek political asylum anywhere.
Landing yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State at about 6 pm, Dr Jonathan was received by different groups led by the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC). During his trip, Dr Jonathan had visited the UK, US and Ivory Coast.
Dr Jonathan said: “I have made sacrifices for Nigeria. I am praised all over Africa for averting bloodshed and for the peaceful transition from one government to another but it seems Nigeria does not appreciate my efforts."
Several groups from across the Niger Delta like the IYC had vowed to make Nigeria ungovernable if Dr Jonathan was arrested. It appears that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is also aware of the political sensitivity of arresting a former president and the problems it could cause.
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