Jonathan Rejects Pressure to Contest in 2027, Says He Won’t Be Used Against Southern Unity
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has reportedly turned down mounting pressure from political associates and loyalists urging him to return to the presidential race in 2027.
According to The Nation, sources close to the former leader disclosed that Jonathan’s Abuja residence has in recent weeks become a rallying point for politicians pushing him to make a comeback. However, the former president has made it clear he would not yield to such calls, insisting their motives are selfish.
The sources revealed that Jonathan strongly believes some of those persuading him are only seeking to exploit his influence to create disunity among Southern leaders ahead of the next general election. He was said to have maintained that he would not allow himself to be used as a tool to weaken Southern solidarity.
“Jonathan has repeatedly told those visiting his home in Abuja that he’s not interested in contesting again, because he has played his part, and he’ll let others play theirs,” an aide to the former president told the newspaper.
The aide further explained that while Jonathan has chosen not to make a public statement on the matter for now, he privately insists that the South should be allowed to complete its eight-year tenure before power returns to the North.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has since assumed the role of an elder statesman, regularly engaging in peace-building efforts across Africa.
