Not a single Nigerian was sent to prison for criticizing me - GEJ
https://infoniger.blogspot.com/2016/10/not-single-nigerian-was-sent-to-prison.html
– Former president Goodluck Jonathan (GEJ) has been in the news frequently lately – Jonathan’s image has been soaring since he left office
– He has been speaking at international events of late Nigeria’s immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has stated that there was no political prisoner under his administration.
GEJ made the comment while giving the keynote address at the annual Merit Awards Dinner of the Nigerian Lawyers Association of the United States of America yesterday, October 29.
President Jonathan and awardees at the event. Photo credit: Vanguard
According to the ex-president, he ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after speech while his government lasted.
“That is why no matter what any critic said about me, I ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after the speech,” Jonathan told his audience which included former Anambra state governor, Mr Peter Obi
He continued: “Under my watch not a single Nigerian was sent to prison because of anything he or she wrote or said about me or about the administration that I headed.
“Nigeria had no political prisoners under my Administration and we certainly did not have any prisoners of conscience because we ourselves ensured that we acted according to our conscience in all we did.
“You in the diaspora can attest to the fact that Nigeria had no political exile. Not only did I take a stance to allow people express their opinions without let or fear, we also enacted the Freedom of Information Act and by that, we tore the veil of secrecy covering governance.”
The highlight of the evening was when Jonathan was honoured for his efforts to promote democracy by the City of New York which proclaimed him as a democratic icon.
– He has been speaking at international events of late Nigeria’s immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has stated that there was no political prisoner under his administration.
GEJ made the comment while giving the keynote address at the annual Merit Awards Dinner of the Nigerian Lawyers Association of the United States of America yesterday, October 29.
President Jonathan and awardees at the event. Photo credit: Vanguard
According to the ex-president, he ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after speech while his government lasted.
“That is why no matter what any critic said about me, I ensured that there was both freedom of speech and freedom after the speech,” Jonathan told his audience which included former Anambra state governor, Mr Peter Obi
He continued: “Under my watch not a single Nigerian was sent to prison because of anything he or she wrote or said about me or about the administration that I headed.
“Nigeria had no political prisoners under my Administration and we certainly did not have any prisoners of conscience because we ourselves ensured that we acted according to our conscience in all we did.
“You in the diaspora can attest to the fact that Nigeria had no political exile. Not only did I take a stance to allow people express their opinions without let or fear, we also enacted the Freedom of Information Act and by that, we tore the veil of secrecy covering governance.”
The highlight of the evening was when Jonathan was honoured for his efforts to promote democracy by the City of New York which proclaimed him as a democratic icon.
