Bolaji Abdullahi: Saraki-Jonathan Rift Started Years Before 2015 Elections

Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Minister of Sports and current National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has offered a new perspective on the origin of the conflict between former Senate President Bukola Saraki and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

In his new book, The Loyalist, Abdullahi disputes the common belief that their fallout began in 2015, tracing it instead to the presidency of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

According to Abdullahi, the tension started when Jonathan was Vice-President and Saraki was the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Advertisement

Jonathan reportedly felt that Saraki and other governors, who had close access to President Yar’Adua, looked down on him as merely a “deputy governor.” Although Yar’Adua attempted to broker peace between the two, the truce was superficial.

The mistrust deepened during Yar’Adua’s illness. Jonathan’s inner circle suspected Saraki of working with a “cabal” to prevent Jonathan from becoming Acting President.

Abdullahi counters this in his book, claiming that Saraki actually initiated the “Doctrine of Necessity” to resolve the political impasse, a move that paved the way for Jonathan’s ascension.

Advertisement

However, suspicions persisted. Jonathan believed Saraki undermined him during the 2011 PDP primaries by supporting a northern consensus candidate.

The relationship deteriorated further during the 2012 fuel subsidy crisis, which Jonathan believed Saraki instigated through a Senate motion. Abdullahi notes that this crisis was a pivotal moment that eventually led to Jonathan’s defeat in the 2015 elections.

Abdullahi also revealed that he was personally fired from Jonathan’s cabinet because he refused to verbally attack Saraki during a political campaign in Kwara State.