PRESIDENCY SAYS JONATHAN FREE TO CONTEST

The Presidency has said former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to join the 2027 presidential race but insisted that Nigerians will not forget his performance in office.

In a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency said it welcomes Jonathan’s possible candidacy but stressed that his years in power left the economy in decline.

The statement criticised attempts by former Information Minister Jerry Gana and other PDP leaders to draft Jonathan into the race, warning that such calls were driven by selfish political interests.

According to Onanuga, Jonathan’s administration inherited over $66 billion in foreign reserves and excess crude savings in 2010 but depleted both by 2015, despite record oil revenues. He noted that many states struggled to pay salaries under Jonathan while corruption scandals, including the diversion of security funds, tainted his government.

By contrast, he said, President Tinubu had stabilised the economy in just over two years through bold reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification. Onanuga pointed to rising GDP growth, reduced inflation, and improved investor confidence as evidence of recovery.

He argued that while Jonathan has every right to run, Nigerians would judge him by his past record and decide whether he has anything new to offer.

Reported by Bright Okpo