Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that his continued absence from active and partisan politics stems from his membership in the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), which requires strict non-partisanship.
Jonathan made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), themed “Legacy of Impact, Celebrating Our Journey.” The event, which also featured a gala dinner celebrating his 68th birthday, provided insight into why the former president has disappointed political associates who expected him to play a more active role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Jonathan explained that WAEF membership comes with stringent conditions that prevent members from engaging in partisan politics. The forum serves as a preventive diplomacy initiative composed of former heads of state who visit countries within the West African sub-region during elections to mediate and avert crises arising from poorly managed polls.
“The idea is, yes, we observe the elections, but we are not co-observers. We go there to make sure that if we notice anything negative emerging, we intervene and try to see what we can do so that those issues do not snowball into a full crisis,” Jonathan stated.
He elaborated on the membership requirements, saying: “The condition to be a member of the WAEF is that you must be a former president within the sub-region and a former president of ECOWAS. One clear condition is that you will no longer be an active politician, and that is why I am disappointing most of my political associates.”
The former president acknowledged the expectations placed on him by political allies but made clear that returning to active politics would require him to first resign from the forum.
“They expect me to play an active role in politics, but before I do, I must first resign from the WAEF,” he emphasized.
Jonathan’s explanation provides clarity on his political status, settling speculation about his potential return to Nigeria’s partisan political arena while highlighting his commitment to regional peace-building efforts through the West African Elders Forum.
