There were indications that the United States was not comfortable with Jonathan as a successor of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
These facts emerged from WikiLeaks’ publications of the US Department of State memos.
The book cited a memo, dated December 1, 2009, written by the then US Ambassador, Robin Sanders.
“Dark rumours about Yar’Adua’s health have given way to broad fears that Yar’Adua is likely entering his final days,” it stated.
Giving its verdict on the then Vice-President Jonathan, the US embassy wrote, “We are preparing a report (septel) on the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into the state House as there have been past reports of corruption, political thuggery and payments to ‘militant factions’ from his days as Governor of Bayelsa State as well as questions about his competency in general.”
The US embassy cable, according to the book, also cited $13.5m allegedly seized by the EFCC from Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience.
Meanwhile, the United States, on Wednesday, declared that the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 was the expression of the will of Nigerians.
The US government said this in response to allegations by Jonathan that his electoral defeat in the 2015 election was partly caused by former US President Barack Obama and his officials.
He alleged that the US worked with France and the United Kingdom to frustrate his failed re-election bid in 2015.
“The US advocated a free, fair and transparent election. The election outcome was an expression of the will of the Nigerian people,” the US embassy spokesman, Russel Brooks, said on Wednesday.
