Speaking during the inauguration of the Bayelsa State executive council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by Governor Douye Diri on Sunday, Jonathan revealed that he wanted to concentrate on his Foundation.
The former president stated that he wanted to stop being “an effective partisan politician” and focus on other areas where his services would be required.
Jonathan said: “I’m shifting away from being an effective partisan politician because of my Foundation. People who want to partner me felt that if you are a partisan leader in the country, they will eat with you with a long spoon.
“I felt that after serving as President of this country, I should go to some other areas where my services would be required. Through that process, I would be able to support the nation and the state in one way or the other.”
Jonathan had recently reacted to the report that the federal government has requested for some of his bank statements.
The request was reported to have been made by Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation, to help an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as it concerns investigations on some individuals reportedly involved in the Process & Industrial Developments Ltd gas deal.
We understands the bank statements of some other people including former First Lady, Patience Jonathan; former ministers of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke and Rilwanu Lukman.
However, in his reaction, Jonathan in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Eze, his spokesman says he is surprised by the action taken by the federal government, adding that he has no accounts or property abroad that warrants investigation.
“Our attention has been drawn to international media reports to the effect that the Federal Government of Nigeria has subpoenaed bank records for former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan in the United States of America,” the statement read.
The statement also disclosed that neither Jonathan nor his wife was contacted by the government before a subpoena was issued for the investigation.