By Ismaeel Aleem
The Presidency has welcomed former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential candidacy in the 2027 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but warned that his “dismal” record in office will face public scrutiny.
In a press release, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, dismissed claims by former Minister Jerry Gana that Jonathan could defeat Tinubu, describing them as “absurd” and driven by selfish motives.
Onanuga cautioned Jonathan against PDP “cheerleaders” like Gana, suggesting they aim to exploit his candidacy for personal, ethnic, or religious gains, only to abandon him as in 2015.
“Jonathan reserves the right to run, and President Tinubu will welcome him to the race,” Onanuga stated, but raised constitutional concerns about Jonathan’s eligibility for a third term, having been sworn in twice. He noted that the courts would determine his eligibility.
The statement highlighted Jonathan’s economic mismanagement from 2010 to 2015, accusing his administration of frivolous spending and depleting Nigeria’s reserves.
“Jonathan inherited $66 billion, including $46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account.
“By 2015, reserves fell below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account was down to $2 billion,” Onanuga said, despite high oil revenues averaging $100 per barrel.
He alleged that Jonathan’s regime enabled cronies to siphon foreign exchange, leaving 28 states unable to pay salaries by December 2014.
In contrast, Onanuga praised Tinubu’s reforms over the past 28 months, including removing fuel subsidies and unifying exchange rates, which stabilised the naira and boosted investor confidence.
He cited a 4.23 per cent GDP growth in Q2 2025, outpacing IMF projections, and a drop in inflation to 20.12 per cent in August, alongside foreign reserves at $42.03 billion. Infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways, were also highlighted.
Onanuga accused the PDP of bequeathing economic ruin after 16 years of misrule, asserting that Tinubu is repairing the damage.
“Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race, but Nigerians will not forget their past and will not allow them to ruin the economy again,” he concluded, framing the election as a referendum on Tinubu’s transformative agenda versus the PDP’s legacy of failure.
