Editor’s Note: ‘Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has rejected a presidential nomination form bought for him by a group from northern Nigeria. Mr Jonathan described the purchase of the form, ‘without his consent’ as an ‘insult.’ In a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Mr Jonathan also said he has yet to decide whether to seek re-election on the platform of Nigeria’s current ruling party, APC.’
A coalition of Northern groups, Monday, 9th May 2022, purchased the presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
It’s noteworthy that the erstwhile president is a member of the opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform he served the country as president from 2010 to 2015, after the death of Umar Yar’adua until his defeat by the APC.
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There have been speculations in the past weeks that Jonathan would compete for the ticket of the ruling APC despite not being a card-carrying member of the party.
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s membership in the PDP has also been a subject for debate in recent times. It was gathered he did not attend the national convention of the party in 2021. Though he has not officially declared his membership of the APC, his body language suggests he has developed a soft spot for the party.
In April, 2022, being last month, some groups protested at Jonathan’s office in Abuja, appealing to him to join the race. While responding to the groups, he told them to ‘watch out’.
He said, “Yes, you are calling me to come and declare for the 2023 presidency; yes, I can’t tell you that I am declaring, but the political process is ongoing. Just watch out.”
It’s worth noting that there has been controversy over the eligibility of Jonathan to contest for Nigeria’s presidency, due to the alteration to the 1999 Constitution.
Some legal luminaries and analysts had argued that Jonathan is not eligible by virtue of 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which provides as follows:
“A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”
It could be recalled that after the death of Yar’Adua in 2010, Jonathan was sworn in to complete his tenure. He was re-elected in 2011 but lost in 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, who remains the incumbent president.
It is reported that, as at 10th May 2022, over 25 aspirants had purchased the presidential forms of the ruling APC.
However, the former present has reportedly rejected the Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms bought for him by the Northern group. He described the purchase of the form ‘without his consent’ as an ‘insult’.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, on Monday, Jonathan equally disclosed he was yet to decide whether to seek re-election on the platform of Nigeria’s current ruling party, APC.
“It has come to our notice that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the name of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it. We want to state that if the former President wanted to contest an election, he would make his intentions clear to the public and will not enter through the back door.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians, for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 Presidential election, we wish to state, that he has not in anyway, committed himself to this request.
“Buying a presidential aspiration form in the name Dr. Jonathan without his consent, knowing the position he had held in this country, is considered an insult to his person. The general public is therefore advised to disregard it.” The statement read in parts.
Above all things and melodramas, my worry as a concerned Nigerian remains Jonathan’s continued interest to return as the country’s president. It’s, at this juncture, clear that he is nurturing a desire to contest for the 2023 presidential race, but the problem is apparently the party he would associate with.
Come to think of it; how could a certain interest group purchase presidential forms without the consent of the supposed beneficiary? This was exactly what transpired in the case of Godwin Emefiele, but the truth is gradually coming out.
I would candidly advise Jonathan, like I have done severally in the past, to honourably retire from active politics before he retires vulnerable. At his age and level in Nigeria’s political space, he ought to be able to read the handwriting on the wall.
I’m afraid, if Jonathan continues in this manner, or with this body language, he would definitely live to regret his actions as a person and as the country’s statesman.