Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has responded to the clamours of Nigerians urging him to run for the presidency in the forthcoming general elections in 2027, stating that he would make consultations which would then determine his decision in running for the presidency.
He announced his decision on Thursday to the youths who gathered at his office in Abuja, asking him to, once again, enter the 2027 presidential race.
Jonathan began by expressing his gratitude for their support and extolled their display of patriotism for the country.
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He said, “My children, my brothers, and my sisters, first and foremost, let me welcome you to my office in Abuja here, and thank you for showing interest in your country.
If you have no interest in your country, you will not bother to be here. So, I can say that you are showing signs of being patriotic Nigerians, and I will encourage you to continue to be patriotic in the country. It is only patriotic citizens that build their nations; unpatriotic citizens will destroy their nations, take the money anywhere to enjoy their lives. So, you must be patriotic”.
He proceeded by highlighting electoral apathy as one of the foremost democratic challenges plaguing electoral operations in Nigeria. He, therefore, urged the youths to actively participate in the electoral process of the country, particularly by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).
He remarked, “We have the highest voter apathy. And it shows that people are not interested in the elections. I have never been to a country that has the low numbers we have in terms of percentage of voters. I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to study, get consultants to look at it…and do something about it. As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process.
If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card, probably fifty percent of you don’t even have a voter’s card. And you are asking me to contest in the election? So, you must be patriotic; you must participate in the electoral process.
Yes, you are asking me to come and contest in the next elections. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I have heard you and I will consult widely. But the most important thing is a Nigeria that the young people will have hope; the Nigeria that will plan for our grandchildren”.
Jonathan then encouraged the youths to become active participants in the Nigerian electoral process and urged them to desist from remaining passive onlookers in the country’s democratic process.
