When I was in power I said my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, now enemies plotting to discredit me — Jonathan

A former President, Goodluck Jonathan, said on Sunday that some individuals are making frantic efforts to malign his personality, insisting that his democratic ideals remain strong as ever.

“It has been brought to my attention that while I am away promoting democracy in Sierra Leone, a campaign will be unleashed against me to falsely impugn my name using both faceless and identified persons,” Mr. Jonathan said in Facebook update shortly after 10:00 p.m.

At home, the former president has faced relentless attacks from Mr. Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo. Within the past week, the two had launched allegations against Mr. Jonathan.

First, Mr. Buhari said he had handled the kidnap of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls far better than Mr. Jonathan, accusing his predecessor of being “insensitive” to the plight of Chibok girls after they were kidnapped under his watch in 2014.

A few days later, Mr. Osinbajo criticised Mr. Jonathan for withdrawing humongous amount from public coffers days to the 2015 elections, money he said was never accounted for. He also accused the former president of squandering funds that should have gone into major infrastructure projects.

But no matter the intensity of the campaign to malign him, Mr. Jonathan said he would remain civil in his conduct.

“When I was in power I said my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. Even out of power, I continue to hold that belief.

“What I will say however, is that no matter how far and fast falsehood has traveled, it must eventually be overtaken by truth,” the former president said.