Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been urged to declare his interest in contesting for the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
This call was made by a group known as the Arewa Consensus for Jonathan, led by Manniru Musa Yisin, National Coordinator of the AC-Jonathan 2027 Project, who addressed journalists on Sunday at the NUJ Press Center, Bauchi.
The group emphasized that it is crucial for the former president to return to Aso Villa to complete the work he began, which, according to them, was left unfulfilled by subsequent administrations.
The Arewa Consensus for Jonathan (AC-Jonathan), a coalition of patriotic groups and individuals from northern Nigeria, aims to save the country from current socio-economic challenges.
Yisin stated, “It is in line with this goal that we gather here today to call on the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, to, as a matter of urgency, declare his interest to run for the presidency in the 2027 general election.”
He continued, “In the same vein, we call on all well-meaning Nigerians, home and abroad, to join us in our efforts to encourage the return of this trusted leader, rallying around him until he successfully returns to the State House in the next presidential election.”
According to him, “To that end, we are announcing that AC-Jonathan is embarking on a ‘Rescue Nigeria’ project, codenamed AC-Jonathan2027, with the objective of getting the former president re-elected as Nigeria’s president in 2027.”
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He explained that the group’s preference for Jonathan is based on his track record of outstanding leadership qualities and integrity, demonstrated during his tenure from 2011 to 2015.
“Mr. Jonathan ran a people-centered government, achieving great things for Nigeria, including rebasing the Nigerian economy, stabilizing the naira, uniting the country, and improving citizens’ standards of living,” he added.
The group further stressed, “As Northern Nigerians, we felt privileged under Jonathan’s administration, especially when he initiated a human development program tailored to address the challenges of human capital deficits in the northern region.”
Manniru Musa added, “For example, understanding the importance of education, he initiated the Almajiri Education Initiative, aimed at giving northern Muslim children a chance for a better life.
“Unfortunately, that initiative was abandoned after the 2015 elections.”
He continued, “In a region plagued by unemployment and insecurity, agriculture remains a lifeline. We can’t thank Jonathan enough for providing farmers with at least two bags of fertilizer at a nominal cost of N5,000.
“Thanks to the e-wallet fertilizer distribution program, which not only put food on tables but allowed rural farmers to save for education, healthcare, and other family needs.”
He noted, “It’s worth mentioning that, in addition to his leadership qualities, Jonathan is from southern Nigeria, which is expected to hold the presidency for eight years from 2023, in line with the rotation of power between the north and south.”
The group added, “Nearly a decade after Jonathan’s exit, the people watch helplessly as their government seems to drift further from them.
“Instead of improved living conditions, policies now increasingly burden citizens with poverty, high living costs, and insecurity.”
“It is against this backdrop of unprecedented hardship that we remind His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that this appeal is a distress call, urging him to reconsider his role in the nation’s future,” he concluded.
The group added, “We, as leaders of the AC-Jonathan2027 Rescue Nigeria project, are committed to doing our part within the remaining 840 days to the next presidential election.
His Excellency has a moral obligation to step forward and fulfill his part.”
In closing, the group congratulated the recently elected U.S. President Donald J. Trump on his victory, noting that his historic comeback is a source of courage and inspiration for Nigerians and global citizens alike.
