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Hon Anike
Hon. Charles C. Anike, National President, Eastern Union (EU), a socio-political group for the people of the old Eastern Region, along with other Nigerians who spoke with Sunday Independent on the speculated return of ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, to the presidential race has advised the former leader to stand by his decision to remain a statesman.
Anike said the former president had no chance of winning the 2027 presidential election should he heed the voice of those calling on him to take another shot at the nation’s most coveted contest.
Anike maintained that although Jonathan was qualified or was a good candidate, the motives and intentions of those urging him to contest were irrational.
He urged Jonathan to be careful and watch it or else he might regret by tarnishing his good image and enviable track records.
Anike stressed that those projecting the ex-president are doing so for selfish political reasons, as they want him to do one term and then handover to the north.
The EU president stressed: “But, they don’t consider the fact that Jonathan’s coming out will only destroy the strong united forces of the opposition.
“If they push him to contest without taking this into account, considering the benefits of a united opposition, then they have only indirectly given clear and soft landing to Tinubu and his APC allies to continue in office in 2027, which of course, will end the northern domination and arrogance in the national politics.
“I insist that if Tinubu is allowed to rig himself into power again, the north will know what it means to be marginalised.
“Jonathan must and should be encouraged to retain his good name and enjoy the euphoria of his political credibility.
“Jonathan should throw his weight behind a very sellable and credible candidate from the South, especially from the Eastern Region.
“His ultimate goal should be to dethrone the evil he unconsciously allowed to hold sway over the country for more than a decade now.
“I believe that will go a very long way to add to his political achievements and demonstration of love and commitment to the freedom of the common man in Nigeria.
“Contesting the 2027 is not the way to go for Jonathan and for the interest of the Nigerian people; rather, it is an agenda of some selfish political gladiators.
“Jonathan must therefore be sensitive and avoid being used by the gullible politicians. He must recall that the wrong impression they created about him in 2015 has not changed.”
He spoke in light of recent calls by some eminent political actors on the former president to join the 2027 presidential race.
Presently, the emergence of the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) seems to have unsettled the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it is believed in some quarters that President Tinubu, known for his nationwide political structure and stratagem, can be beaten by a formidable candidate in the stature of Jonathan.
Bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, an economist, and public affairs commentator, said the bait thrown to former President Jonathan to join the presidential election for 2027 is a trick and dangerous one capable of tarnishing his reputation, if accepted, will give an easy victory to President Tinubu.
Dr Ekechukwu, a cleric, said: “President Goodluck Jonathan, we love you, and on behalf of those who love you, I beg you not to fall for it.
“Please, don’t contest. You are not a match to Tinubu’s kind of brute and gutter politics. President Tinubu will do everything to retain power and if you are on his way, he will destroy you.”
Ekechukwu maintained that Jonathan plays a clean, decent and gentleman’s brand of politics, just like Mr Peter Obi, and will not be a match to Tinubu kind of politics.
According to him, “We know his political slogan, ‘My political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian’. He lacks the capacity to rig the election, or fight back, if he is rigged out.
“The moment he accepts to run, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will be unleashed against him and try to probe him and his wife.
“Again, if he accepts to run under the PDP, he will be frustrated out the same way Atiku was frustrated out by Nyesom Wike. Again, through Wike, PDP has now become an extension of APC.
“Jonathan joining the race will provide a clear and easy victory to Tinubu. Jonathan will share Mr. Peter Obi’s votes in South South and South East, paving way for easy and cheap victory to Tinubu.
“Moreover, moreover, if he wins, we will not have appreciable change in governance.
“What we need to change the narrative is that the coalition should select Mr Peter Obi, with one formidable force fighting with one voice and creating a new Nigeria through Mr Peter Obi.”
Professor John Ebhomien, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Lagos, “If former President Goodluck Jonathan considers joining the presidential race as being rumoured, his chances appear slim, given the current political landscape.
“Realistically, it may be more prudent for him to maintain his role as a respected statesman.
“Those urging him to join the race may have ulterior motives, prioritising their interests over his well-being.
“It would be wise for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dr. Patience Jonathan, to conserve their time, resources, and energy.
“Preserving his integrity and opting for advisory roles in the political sphere could be a more impactful way for the former president to contribute, potentially leaving a lasting legacy.
“To all presidential aspirants and politicians, I offer this advice: adhere strictly to electoral rules and regulations, and guide your supporters to do the same.
“This approach is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring a peaceful political environment.”
Dr Rexkennedy Saltlove, a human rights promoter, said the rumours or flaunting of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s name is bait being pursued by some Northern elements, which are not comfortable with the present administration, to lure him out for two reasons.
Saltlove, President/Executive, President/Executive Director, Citizens Rights and Empowerment Advocacy Initiative (CREMA Initiative), explained further: “Firstly, it is only Goodluck Jonathan that can be trusted to do one term constitutionally, and power returns to the North, which they are desperately craving for.
“Secondly, it is a subtle approach to provoke Goodluck Jonathan’s basic instinct as man, to come out and play a return match to President Tinubu, because of the role he (Tinubu) played in unseating him as a president by teaming up with Buhari from the North, supported by the South West.
“Even though I have my strong reservation that Jonathan will fall for the bait and contest, his chances, if he joins the race, will be very bright for a couple of reasons, though it would be tortuous and herculean.
“One, ‘Karma is a bitch’. Should Jonathan join the race, it will give karma the leverage to pay Tinubu and the APC government a visit.
“And when karma calls, he pays back in full. With that, there is no way Jonathan will not win. This is because he is from the South. As a sitting president in his first term, he was harassed and booted out of office through a fellow Southerner, Tinubu, in alliance with Northern elements.
“Again, aside from Mr. Peter Obi, who swept through the political landscape as a tsunami in the 2023 presidential election, Jonathan is one person who Nigerians have a very soft spot for, for his leadership style and personality.
“This could endear him to many, who will, as a role model, vote for and tell their children why they can take him as a model.
Third is the uniting factor. The nation presently is sharply polarised along ethnic and tribal lines. The present administration, in its appointment, has taken tribalism a notch higher than its predecessor.
“If there is one reason Nigerians will yearn for Jonathan, it is to come and heal the deeply ingrained wounds along this line.
“This is because he is from the minority. He owes no major ethnic group any allegiance or debt, outside the Nigeria nation and project.
“Should he come and his handlers and party play their cards well, Jonathan’s chances are bright, but the journey will be tough.
“This is because the nation is impoverished and is now for the highest bidder, and people may be more interested in short term gains, than long term benefits.
“Last, but not the least, Jonathan’s chances are bright because of what I will call the ‘remorse or sympathy votes’.
“From the moment he conceded to Buhari as a sitting president before the last vote was counted, to his present global role, Jonathan has been one of most educated presidents in Nigerian history, viz-a-viz the economy, security, and deeply polarised nation.
“Nigerians know that Jonathan is a gentleman and one of the best gifts God gave us as a nation. Yet, he was not allowed to finish his second term..
“Nigeria is a very religious country. If anything, they may vote for him as a way of showing remorse and repentance for falling for the APC’s lies and propaganda they bought into and used their votes as a protest to remove him.
“When Nigerians compare how things were under his administration, they will return him to power in the next election.
“If Nigerians do so, God will forgive them and bless them, so that the country can get out of the poverty the majority of people are into as well as an improved economy and better security situation.
“Jonathan’s chances are bright and high. But, his handlers are critical factors in driving home his marketability to the grassroots and acceptance.”
Dr Felix Nwosu, a public affairs analyst and church leader, stated: “My humble advice to former President Goodluck Jonathan is to look before he leaps.
“Before he joins the race as a presidential candidate for PDP, he should consult widely before offering himself to serve Nigerian people again. If not, he will be disappointed.
However, in my view, Jonathan should not contest now because there is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027.
“His time to lead the nation is over. Let him look for something better to do with his life as a person, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, unless he wants to be disappointed again.
“Although, for now the issue is just a rumour, Jonathan should be wise as the coast is not clear for him to join the presidential race again.” (Sunday Independent)
