Three names ? Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ? featured at the weekend?s reading of seismic shifts ahead of the 2027 general elections. Whether these figures will spark consequential political tremors remains to be seen in the coming days.

The Arewa Consensus for Jonathan, a Northern political group, said it regretted voting against former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections, acknowledging that his administration had good intentions for the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Bauchi, yesterday, the group?s National Coordinator, Manniru Musa Yisin, said that having experienced two different leaders since Jonathan?s tenure, the North now realises the benefits it enjoyed under his administration. According to him, Jonathan?s government prioritised human development, particularly in the northern region.

?As Nigerians of Northern extraction, we felt especially privileged under Jonathan?s administration when he introduced a human development programme tailored to address the region?s challenges,? Yisin said. ?For instance, appreciating the value of education for both personal and national development, we owe a debt of gratitude to His Excellency, the former President, for implementing the Almajiri Education Initiative. This initiative aimed to provide underprivileged Northern Muslim children with a chance to live a decent life. Unfortunately, this programme was immediately scrapped after the 2015 elections.?

Yisin also decried the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians under the current administration, asserting that most citizens live in abject poverty, with no relief in sight while the government continues to impose multiple taxes.

?If the government continues with its anti-people policies, there will be no one left to vote in the next election,? Yisin warned while appealing to Jonathan to consider contesting in the 2027 presidential election to rescue Nigerians from hardship.

Highlighting Jonathan?s leadership qualities, Yisin emphasised that the former president, who hails from Southern Nigeria, is well-positioned to lead the country again, especially considering the ongoing power rotation between the North and South.

?It is our humble belief that upholding this unwritten rule of power rotation is crucial for Nigeria?s unity and the harmonious coexistence of its diverse cultural groups,? he added.

This came as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, called on Nigerians committed to good governance, particularly the Igbo community, to remain steadfast in their support for Peter Obi?s presidential ambition, which he described as crucial for a better Nigeria.

Tanko made this call at a one-day symposium organised by the Obidient Movement in collaboration with Anambra State Support Groups, held at the All Saints Cathedral Auditorium, Onitsha, over the weekend.

According to him, with Obi, the Labour Party?s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, at the helm, the realisation of a new Nigeria is within reach.

Reflecting on Nigeria?s history, Tanko noted that the nation?s founding fathers, including Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Tafawa Balewa, laid a solid foundation but poor leadership had hindered progress.

?Following the formalisation and restructuring of the Obidient Movement, this symposium is aimed at harmonising efforts, strengthening our organisational structure, and unifying our mission to promote social and political cohesion, ethical leadership, and purpose-driven advocacy,? Tanko said. (The Guardian)

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