A former presidential aspirant under the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mathias Tsado, has called on associates of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to persuade him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Tsado made the call on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
“Yes, Jonathan has not declared that he wants to run for election, but for somebody like me, I am praying for a day that will come when President Goodluck Jonathan will declare and say, ‘I want to run.
“Those who have his contacts, those who have access to him, should speak to him. They should point out the other rumours around in 2023 that he was going to run and all that.
”There were rumors, but this time around, [they should tell him], ‘Please come around, sir, because Nigerian people today need you, ” he said.
The former Bayelsa governor became the president in May 2010 after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua.
He was then elected in 2011, serving a full term of four years before losing to Buhari.
Jonathan however lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections, the first time an incumbent was defeated since the return of democracy in the country in 1999.
Tsado praised Jonathan for conceding defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, showcasing his commitment to democracy and lack of desperation for power.
He noted that Jonathan demonstrated statesmanship by conceding defeat to Buhari, a sign that he was not desperate for power.
“In fact, he demonstrated he’s not somebody who is desperate to be in government.
“You remember when he said his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, and someone said recently that President Goodluck Jonathan lost the election in 2015 but gained the people.
”And at the moment, I think that is what is working for him,” the former ADP presidential aspirant said.
According to him, Jonathan has attained a position many politicians in the country are aspiring for.
“You see, the position that President Goodluck, former President Goodluck Jonathan, finds himself today is a position that most politicians are yearning for,” he said.
Tsado urged Jonathan’s associates to speak with him and point out the rumours surrounding his potential return to politics in 2027.
Tsado believes Nigerians need Jonathan’s leadership, saying, “Please come around, sir, because Nigerian people today need you.”
There have been ongoing speculations about Jonathan’s potential return to politics, with some PDP chieftains suggesting he could be a strategic option for the party.
The next presidential election is expected to be highly competitive, and Jonathan’s participation could significantly impact the outcome.