The Presidency has issued a pointed response to speculation about former President Goodluck Jonathan's potential bid for the 2027 presidential election, welcoming him to the race while raising constitutional hurdles and sharply criticizing his past administration's economic record.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the government dismissed recent calls from Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information, for Jonathan to contest on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Gana, known for his role in the defunct Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) program, claimed Jonathan could defeat Tinubu after 12 years out of office.Onanuga described Gana's assertions as "absurd" and "delusional," accusing PDP figures of luring Jonathan into the fray for personal, ethnic, and religious gains, only to abandon him as they allegedly did in 2015.
"Don't get us wrong: 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," the statement read.
However, it cautioned that Jonathan's eligibility would face scrutiny in court, given that he was sworn in twice as president—first completing the term of the late Umaru Yar'Adua in 2010 and then winning a full term in 2011—potentially violating constitutional limits on holding office for more than two terms.
The statement launched a scathing review of Jonathan's six-year tenure, blaming it for laying the foundations of Nigeria's current economic woes.
It accused the administration of frivolous spending, lacking a clear economic agenda, and engaging in corruption, including the allocation of foreign exchange for fuel imports that never materialized—cases still pending in courts today—and the misuse of security funds by Jonathan's National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Financial figures cited in the statement painted a stark picture: Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves in 2010 ($46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account), which dwindled to under $30 billion in foreign reserves and $2 billion in the Excess Crude Account by 2015, despite record oil revenues averaging $100 per barrel from 2010 to 2013.
By late 2014, the federal government struggled to pay civil servants' salaries, with 28 states owing massive arrears.
In stark contrast, Onanuga hailed Tinubu's "bold reforms" over the past 28 months, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rates, which he said curbed arbitrage and restored investor confidence.
Key achievements highlighted include:
GDP growth of 4.23% in Q2 2025, the highest in four years and surpassing the IMF's 3.4% projection.
Inflation dropping to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest in three years.
Foreign reserves rebounding to $42.03 billion.
Naira stabilization and renewed foreign investment.
Infrastructure gains under Tinubu were also emphasized, such as the reconstruction of old roads and new mega-projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, alongside efforts to tackle security challenges.
The statement framed the 2027 contest as a premature opposition ploy against Tinubu's "glaring giant economic strides," quoting Shakespeare to decry the "cacophony of voices" as "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
It concluded that while Jonathan and others are free to run, Nigerians would not entrust the economy to those who "broke it" before, allowing Tinubu to fix it.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com