The former Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, said he was yet to decide whether or not to yield to pressure from different groups urging him to contest the 2023 presidential election.
He disclosed this on Friday, 22nd April 2022 in Abuja when his committee of friends and some youths from across the country visited him at his Foundation Office in Maitama, Abuja.
Jonathan stated that the visits, especially by the youth, showed they were interested in the political affairs of the country. He therefore urged them to be interested and be key players in the country’s politics to enthrone good governance.
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“As youths, we must get involved in the country’s political process and luckily the law of ‘Not too Young to Run’ bill, has made it clear that youths can contest almost every position in government.
“We will continue to encourage youths to get involved in the country’s political process. And as long as many youths get involved in the political process, we will be able to get the government we want.’’ he opined.
Jonathan expressed optimism that with youth involvement in politics, the enthronement of good government would effectively address the country’s current challenges as possible. He, however, said that though some of the country’s present challenges went way back but could be dealt with from a united front.
On whether he would declare for the 2023 presidential election, the erstwhile president responded that the political process was ongoing.
“Yes, you are calling me to come and declare for the 2023 presidency. I can’t tell you that I am declaring, but the political process is ongoing. Just watch out.
“But the key role you must play is to pray that Nigeria gets a president that will carry the young people along and work very hard to see that some of the country’s problems raised are dealt with. I believe that collectively, we can work together.’’ he added.
The leader of Youth Compatriots of Nigeria, Mayor Samuel while speaking with journalists at the event, said the youth were prepared to support Jonathan to ensure that he emerged as the country’s next president come 2023.
He decried the spate of insecurity in parts of the country and the dwindling economy, saying there was a need to address the situation.
According to him, the Nigeria Peoples Party is ready to give Jonathan its presidential ticket to contest the 2023 presidential election. He said the party though not registered yet, belonged to the downtrodden, adding any party that gave its presidential ticket to Jonathan would be supported by all Nigerians.
“The secret to good governance is what Nigeria requires at the moment. Jonathan had been tested and proven, and we are ready to follow him.’’ he said.
It’s noteworthy that the Coalition of Northern Youths and other youth bodies and women groups from across the federation were parts of the visit. The youths were seen chanting ‘run Goodluck, run’ and they were also seen holding placards that read ‘declare now, Goodluck, you must run’ you are wasting our time, declare now’ among other descriptions.
In view, one of the youth leaders, Jonathan Akumobi said they came to compel the past president to run, because they believed in his capabilities, given his experience.
Akumobi further stated that a lot of challenges being experienced in all sectors in Nigeria required an experienced hand like Goodluck Jonathan to tackle.
“We are tired of the killings, of the insecurity, our schools are closed because of the strike, the national grid has been collapsing, everything in Nigeria is challenged.
“The prices of food items have gone up. During Jonathan’s administration, we were buying a bag of rice for N7,000. Today, it is N35,000. We need Jonathan back to help us return to the good old days because we are tired of the excuses.’’
Another speaker, Ibrahim Saki said they were calling on Jonathan to run, so he could rescue the country. He said, “We need Jonathan to turn things around, we need him back to tackle all the things that have gone bad in the country.
“Please we need you back, Nigerians are tired. Please come back and continue your good luck, we are sorry for all the things we said and did then.’’ he landed.
It would be recalled that Jonathan was Nigeria’s President between 2010 and 2015 when he lost power to the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, in that year’s presidential election.
There were speculations some months ago that Buhari’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was wooing the former president to run for the position on its platform.
In the period under review, Jonathan won his elections and piloted the affairs of the country under the aegis of the People’ Democratic Party (PDP). He has not, however, been active in the party since he left power.
If I were in Jonathan’s shoes, I would quietly retire from active politics and return to my family. It’s therefore preposterous to advise him to honourably go home and rest, rather than contemplating succumbing to the myriad of calls from these Nigerians who are yet to face the realities.
The reality is that Jonathan can never do any magic towards reviving Nigeria’s epileptic economy. Hence, he is definitely not the answer to the ongoing economic quagmire in the country.
Nigeria as a country found herself in this mess, simply because the Buhari-led administration lacks the needed political will as well as being surrounded by a bunch of ineptitudes. Had it been the present government that did as promised, or expected, we would have realized that the immediate past administration led by Jonathan never did any wonders.
So, asking Jonathan to return to power, is just like taking Nigeria back to Egypt. What the country needs right now is fresh blood that’s loaded with the intent to overhaul the system. QED.