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2027: Jonathan, Obi, Kwankwaso’s names resound as political jostling intensifies

By Muyiwa Adeyemi, Kehinde Olatunji (Lagos) and Rauf Oyewole (Bauchi)
11 November 2024   |   5:55 am
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.
Goodluck Jonathan

• Northern group regrets voting against Jonathan in 2015, urges him to run
• Obidient Movement rallies support for Obi’s presidential bid
• Kwankwaso visits Otti, hints at alliance with Labour Party faction
• NNPP cautions Abia gov against meddling in party’s internal affairs
• Atiku driven by entitlement, lacks voter connection, says Tinubu’s aide
• Former president congratulates Trump on victory, optimistic for U.S. leadership

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.

He further emphasised that achieving a new Nigeria requires prioritising the election of capable leaders, adding, “We are committed to bidding farewell to bad governance by ensuring that the right individuals are elected to lead us.”

Tanko urged the South East to continue supporting the movement, reiterating that “charity begins at home.” He praised Peter Obi for his dedication to the nation’s welfare and urged Nigerians to elect leaders who can advance national interests in 2027.

The chairman of the occasion, Prof Stella Okunna, highlighted the importance of good governance and commended the organisers for reinvigorating the movement. She encouraged members to expand their outreach beyond party lines.

READ ALSO:Obasanjo, Jonathan, Tambuwal, others laud Obaseki’s eight years in office

Also speaking, Valentine Ozigbo, the Labour Party’s governorship aspirant for Anambra’s 2025 election, reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s interests. He urged members to stay united in pursuing a better Nigeria, adding that the party’s efforts in 2023 demonstrated the possibility of meaningful change. Ozigbo expressed gratitude to supporters who elevated the movement, particularly acknowledging the contributions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.

MEANWHILE, Abia State Governor Alex Otti hosted Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South local council.

The Guardian learnt that the visit, which took place over the weekend, stirred speculation of a potential alliance between Kwankwaso’s NNPP and the Nnenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This development comes amid ongoing crises within the LP at both state and national levels, which have been blamed for the party’s defeat in the recently concluded elections across Abia’s 17 councils.

Kwankwaso, who was in Abia to commiserate with Otti over the passing of the state’s first civilian governor, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, urged 15 newly graduated Abia indigenes from the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, to uphold professionalism in their duties.

Commending Otti for his accomplishments since assuming office, Kwankwaso said, “For the little time I am here, I had the opportunity to speak with a few people who confirmed to me that you are doing very well. In fact, very well; we have seen your projects everywhere.” In response, Otti expressed gratitude for Kwankwaso’s visit and acknowledged his contributions and patriotism, which he described as invaluable.

HOWEVER, the NNPP has urged Otti to avoid being drawn into the party’s internal issues by Kwankwaso, whom it insists has been expelled. The NNPP issued the call yesterday in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdulsalam Abdulrazaq, following an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.

The party claimed that its NWC’s attention was drawn to Kwankwaso’s introduction, alongside members of the Kwankwasiyya group, as representatives of the NNPP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during a visit to the Abia State Government House on November 9, 2024.

The NNPP condemned the act, describing it as impersonation and irresponsibility. According to the statement, the party emphasised that the visit contravened a recent ruling by an Abia State High Court that assigned the administration of the NNPP to its Board of Trustees (BOT). It reiterated that Kwankwaso and his allies had been expelled, adding that the NNPP did not recognise those presented as party executives during the visit.

“We have reliable information that some of the matters discussed by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso with the Abia State governor pertained to the recent High Court ruling, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transfer control of the party to the BOT, in accordance with the NNPP’s amended 2022 constitution,” the statement read.

The NNPP urged Otti not to allow himself to be drawn into the party’s internal conflicts by the expelled Kwankwaso, whom it accused of attempting to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party further advised Otti, whom it acknowledged as a democrat with respect for the rule of law, to uphold the principle of separation of powers by disregarding any discussions related to the recent court judgement.

The NNPP stressed that INEC is legally bound by the court’s order to hand over the party’s administration to the BOT, led by Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, the party’s founder and BOT chairman.

“Should Kwankwaso be dissatisfied with the judgement, he knows the appropriate legal channels to pursue rather than attempting to engage the executive arm of the government,” the party stated.

IN a related development, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of harbouring a “sense of entitlement” and lacking a genuine connection with Nigerian voters.

Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, reacted to Atiku’s recent claim that President Tinubu “stole his presidency” during the disputed 2023 election. According to him, such remarks highlight Atiku’s “grand illusions.”

“Since his defeat in the last election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been more focused on undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than addressing his own party’s internal challenges,” Onanuga said. “It appears he harbours envy for Tinubu’s office—an ambition he has unsuccessfully pursued six times.”

The presidential aide further criticised Atiku’s assertion that his policies would outperform those of the Tinubu administration, describing it as misguided.
“It is baffling that Atiku would elevate his untested proposals, which Nigerians rejected in 2023, as alternatives to the comprehensive reforms being implemented by Tinubu,” he said. “If his plan lacked appeal then, simply rebranding it won’t solve the socio-economic challenges inherited from his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after 16 years in power.”

In a statement titled, ‘Time for Atiku Abubakar to End His Grand Illusions and Fantasies’, Onanuga argued that Atiku’s expectations of victory reflect a disconnect from the preferences of Nigerian voters.

“Atiku’s accusation of President Tinubu ‘stealing his presidency’ reveals not only a sense of entitlement but also a detachment from the choice of the Nigerian people,” Onanuga added.

He maintained that Tinubu’s election victory reflects the electorate’s genuine will, which Atiku failed to capture due to what he termed as arrogance and lack of voter engagement. Since his 2023 election loss, Atiku has consistently criticised Tinubu’s administration, suggesting he would approach economic challenges differently.

However, Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s proposed “consultation period” for economic decisions, arguing that Nigeria’s economy required immediate and decisive action, which Tinubu had already taken.

The aide further critiqued Atiku’s policy ideas as outdated, citing Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies to fund infrastructure and social programmes. He dismissed Atiku’s calls for phased subsidy removal and refinery privatisation as irrelevant.

Onanuga urged Atiku to abandon what he described as “politics of distraction” and focus instead on constructive contributions to national discourse, stressing that the Tinubu administration remains committed to addressing Nigeria’s urgent challenges through impactful reforms.

THIS was as former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Donald Trump on his recent election victory, describing it as a testament to true leadership and a reflection of the American people’s confidence in his vision.

In a message shared on his official X handle yesterday, Jonathan congratulated Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States and expressed hope that Trump’s presidency would not only drive the American dream forward but also foster global peace, stability, and progress.

“I extend my warmest felicitations to you on your election as the 47th President of the United States,” Jonathan said. “Your impressive victory is a testament to the American people’s faith in your leadership and vision for the future.”

He added, “I am optimistic that your presidency will not only advance the American dream but also promote the cause for global peace, stability, and progress. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations once again.”

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