President Goodluck Jonathan’s office has just issued a statement denying ever contesting for the chairmanship of the African Union.

In a statement a while ago, Aso Rock’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, said, “It is not true that President Yayi Boni “defeated” President Goodluck Jonathan in an election; there was no contest in the first place and President Jonathan was not a candidate for the AU Chairmanship position.”

Mr. Abati said although “Mr. President was indeed approached by leaders within and outside the West African sub-region to take up the challenge of leading the AU for the next one year” he politely declined and opted to back Mr. Boni.

Premium Times had reported Sunday that Nigeria was given a severe diplomatic drubbing by other West African countries, which ferociously opposed President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for the chairmanship of African Union at the ongoing summit of the continental body in Addis Ababa.

Our story was based on interviews with some officials and journalists who were on the president’s delegation to the summit, and who witnessed first hand, the president’s last minutes  scheming  and subtle maneuverings to clinch the AU top spot.

In fact, one of our sources said it was Mr. Jonathan’s handlers who planted stories in local and international media to create the impression that the president was a frontrunner for the position.

“They thought that would sway other heads of state and persuade them to back GEJ,” the source, a top administration official, said. “Of course, it didn’t work.”

When informed of Mr. Abati’s statement, another source familiar with the matter said, “Forget it, it is an afterthought. They are only trying to cover the huge shame this diplomatic misadventure has brought on our country.”

Read presidency’s full statement below.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Jonathan Did Not Contest for AU Chairmanship

It has come to our attention that some media houses are alleging that President Goodluck Jonathan was “defeated” by President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic in the “contest” to elect a new African Union Chairman at the 18^th AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This report is false and is only the latest in a series of sensational and fictional reporting in a bid to cast the administration of President Jonathan in bad light. Let me make the following clear:

1.       It is not true that President Yayi Boni “defeated” President Goodluck Jonathan in an election; there was no contest in the first place and President Jonathan was not a candidate for the AU Chairmanship position.

2.       It is also not true that President John Atta Mills opposed President Jonathan at any time. Ghana and Nigeria enjoy excellent relations.

3.       It is true, however, that in the last week, some newspapers have been speculating that President Jonathan may be adopted  by the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments to be the next chairman of the African Union, since it was the turn of ECOWAS to produce the AU Chairman for 2012-2013. Mr. President was indeed approached by leaders within and outside the West African sub-region to take up the challenge of leading the AU for the next one year.

4.       While appreciating this kind gesture, President Jonathan resolved that he needed time to focus on domestic affairs in Nigeria, and that it would be practically difficult for him to combine the three positions of President of Nigeria, Chairman of ECOWAS and Chairman of African Union. He therefore rejected the offer.

5.       In order to make his position clear, President Jonathan, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, summoned a mini-Summit of ECOWAS at the AU Commission Headquarters on Saturday, January 28, 2012, to ensure that there was a meeting of minds on the position of AU Chairman.  His preference, he noted, would be for ECOWAS to adopt the leader of another country, in order to promote a sense of belonging among member-states. Nigeria, having occupied the position of AU Chairman four times in the past, would readily support any such country.

6.       As it turned out, the President of the Republic of Benin had indicated interest in the position, which paved the way for his unanimous adoption by the ECOWAS Heads of State as the sub-region’s candidate for the AU Chair. Thus, it becomes obvious that President Jonathan rather than being “defeated” by President Yayi Boni of Benin actually facilitated his emergence as AU Chairman.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

January 30, 2012