2027: Jonathan Free To Run, But ‘Nigerians Recall’ His Failures – Presidency

The Presidency, connected Monday, declared that erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan was escaped to contention the 2027 statesmanlike predetermination if helium wishes but insisted that Nigerians volition not hide his “dismal record” successful office.

This was contained successful a connection issued by Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu connected Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, successful effect to comments credited to Professor Jerry Gana, a erstwhile Minister of Information, who is reportedly backing Jonathan to instrumentality to the contention connected the level of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Onanuga described Gana’s remarks arsenic absurd, accusing him of deluding himself with the assertion that Jonathan could decision President Tinubu successful 2027.

He said Jonathan should beryllium wary of PDP “sugar-coated cheerleaders” who lone privation to usage him to prosecute selfish political, spiritual and taste interests, informing that they would wantonness him midstream conscionable arsenic they did successful 2015.

“Don’t get america wrong: President Jonathan reserves the close to tally if helium wishes. It is his inalienable close to contention the presidency again.

“President Tinubu volition wholeheartedly invited him if helium decides to participate the race. But Jonathan volition person his day successful the tribunal of the land. Indeed, the assemblage volition find whether Jonathan, who was sworn successful doubly arsenic president, satisfies the law requirements and is eligible to contention the presidency and beryllium sworn in, if successful, for a 3rd word successful office,” the connection work successful part.

The Presidency, however, maintained that Nigerians would inactive clasp Jonathan accountable for his six years successful office, which it described arsenic disastrous.

It recalled that his medication had nary wide economical agenda, engaged successful frivolous spending, depleted reserves and the Excess Crude Account contempt grounds lipid revenues, and near salaries unpaid crossed galore states by the extremity of 2014.

According to the statement, Jonathan inherited $66 cardinal successful 2010 — $46 cardinal successful overseas reserves and $20 cardinal successful the Excess Crude Account. By 2015, reserves had dropped beneath $30 cardinal and the ECA was reduced to $2 billion.

During his tenure, it added, corruption thrived, with information funds allegedly diverted to friends and cronies, portion businessmen cornered overseas speech meant for substance importation without delivering products.

Onanuga contrasted this with President Tinubu’s performance, noting that successful 28 months, his medication had removed substance subsidy, abolished aggregate speech rates, stabilised the naira, restored capitalist assurance and boosted infrastructure development.

He pointed to Q2 2025 GDP maturation of 4.23 per cent, ostentation down to 20.12 per cent successful August 2025, and overseas reserves of $42.03 cardinal arsenic grounds of the administration’s progress.

“The federation has turned the corner. And our radical person started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration.

“Road infrastructure is being boosted. Old roads are being reconstructed portion caller ones, similar the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, among others, are springing up. The authorities is addressing information issues successful immoderate parts of the country.

“We tin spell connected and on, reeling retired the galore macroeconomic gains of the Tinubu administration. However, the constituent is that the PDP and Jerry Gana’s co-travellers broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it. President Jonathan and others are invited to the 2027 race.

“They broke the system before, but millions of Nigerians who volition not easy hide the caller past volition not let them to instrumentality to tally it down again,” the connection concluded.