The Presidency has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 presidential election, but warned that Nigerians will not forget his “dismal record in office.”
The response came in a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, following claims by former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, that Jonathan would contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defeat Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years.
Onanuga dismissed Gana’s remarks as “absurd”, suggesting that PDP figures only wanted to lure Jonathan into the race for selfish motives.
“Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests,” the statement read.
“They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.”
The presidential aide, however, affirmed Jonathan’s constitutional right to run, while noting that questions about his eligibility might arise since he has already been sworn in twice.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race.
But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land. Indeed, the jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.”
Onanuga also accused Jonathan of economic mismanagement, arguing that Nigeria’s downturn began under his administration.
He alleged that Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and excess crude account in 2010 but left behind less than $32 billion by 2015, despite enjoying record oil revenues. He added that by December 2014, the federal government was unable to pay salaries, with at least 28 states owing workers arrears.
“Let us remind ourselves about Jonathan’s record. We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits,” Onanuga said.
“The Jonathan administration severely damaged the economy, and all key indicators declined under his watch.”
He contrasted this with President Tinubu’s “bold reforms,” including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of exchange rates, and improvements in GDP and reserves.
“In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. And our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration. President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow them to return to run it down again.”