By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
A political pressure group known as Arewa Consensus for Jonathan 2027 has begun the process of dragging the former Nigeria’s President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from political retirement in order to join the 2027 presidential race.
The group has therefore urged him to as a matter of necessity, declare interest in contesting for the presidency come 2027 general elections.
The ‘Arewa Consensus for Jonathan 2027′ led by Manniru Musa Yisin, National Coordinator, AC-Jonathan 2027 Project made the disclosure while addressing Journalists on Sunday at the NUJ Press Center, Bauchi.
The group stressed that it is expedient on the former President to return to the Aso Villa to complete the good works he started but abandoned by the administrations that came after his.
The Arewa Consensus for Jonathan (AC-Jonathan) is a coalition of patriotic groups and individuals across the length and breadth of northern Nigeria who come together in order to save the country from the current socio-economic peril.
The group leader stated that, “It is in line with this goal that we gather here today to call on former president of the federal republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, to, as a matter of urgency, declare himself as interested to run for the seat of the president again comes 2027 general election in Nigeria.”
He added that,”In the same vein, we are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, home and abroad, to join us in our efforts to drag the tested and trusted gentleman back into the ring and also to rally around him until he successfully returns to the State House in the next presidential election.”
According to him,”To that end, we wish to announce that AC-Jonathan is embarking on a Rescue Nigeria project codenamed AC-Jonathan2027. The object of this project is to get the former president re-elected as the next president of the federal republic of Nigeria in the year 2027.”
He explained that,”While the project represents a moral duty for all Nigerian citizens, it is noteworthy that our preference for His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is informed by his track record of outstanding leadership qualities and power of character as demonstrated during his reign as the President of Nigeria.”
“Indeed, between 2011 and 2015, Mr. Jonathan has run people-centered government and recorded great achievements for the people and country including rebasing of the Nigerian economy, stabilizing the naira, cemented the unity of the country, improve the citizens’ standard of living and, in a spirit of patriotism and sportsmanship, exited the State House in an unforgettable grand style,” he added.
The group stressed that,”As Nigerians of Northern extraction, we really felt particularly privileged under Jonathan’s administration especially when he came up with a tailored human development program that was aimed at checking the challenges of human capital deficits in the northern region.”
Manniru Musa added that,”For example, appreciating the importance of education for personal and community development as well as nation building, we feel deeply indebted to His Excellency the former President for initiating and actualizing many education programs including the need-based Almajiri Education Initiative with a view to giving the helpless northern muslim children an opportunity to live a decent life. Unfortunately, that initiative was instantly killed after the 2015 elections.”
He stressed that,”In a region that is plagued with high-level unemployment and deteriorating insecurity, agriculture remains the only lifeline for the northern economy. It is for this reason once again that we can’t thank His Excellency the former president Jonathan enough for giving farmers all over the nation the opportunity to access at least two (2) bags of fertilizer at a negligible cost of N5, 000 without knowing anybody.”
“Thanks to the glorious e-wallet fertilizer distribution program. That novel welfare initiative has not only succeeded in putting food on the tables of Nigerians, but also gave rural farmers the opportunities to save some money for education, healthcare and other basic needs of their families,” he added.
According to him,”Furthermore, we find it interesting and as important coincidence that, in addition to Mr. Jonathan’s unequaled leadership qualities, the former president hails from southern Nigeria; the region that is expected to maintain the nation’s presidency for eight straight years starting from 2023.”
The group stressed that,”It is our humble belief that safeguarding the unwritten rules of power rotation between the two regions of north and south is very important for the unity and harmonious coexistence of multicultural Nigeria.”
“Regrettably, nearly a decade after His Excellency’s exit as Nigeria’s President, the people helplessly watch what is supposed to be their government being consistently taken further and further away from them,” he added.
According to the group, “As against the high hopes for better living conditions and more expanded civic space that filled the atmosphere of 2015 and 2023 general election campaigns, the people’s interests are systematically but deliberately thrown through the window by the powers that followed.”
It stressed that,”Today, all hopes of the people are dashed and all dreams shattered as the system is now practically turned directly against the people. Every new government policy is a new wahala for the people as the unsuspecting citizens are left wallowing in pains of increasing poverty, high cost of living and insecurity.”
“It is against this backdrop of unprecedented state of hardship and despair, that we are reminding His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that this submission of ours is a distress call which leaves him with room for second thought,” he added.
The group stressed that,”Without doubt, as members and leaders of the AC- Jonathan2027 Rescue Nigeria project, we are determined to do our part within the remaining 840 days to the next presidential election. His Excellency may wish to be reminded that he has a moral obligation to step forward and do his part accordingly.”
The group concluded,”Finally, we want to use this opportunity to congratulate the newly elected President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump over his victory in the recently concluded presidential election in the US. This historic comeback is a great source of courage and inspiration for global citizens, including Nigerians.”
