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)