The Presidency has said former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 general election but warned that Nigerians will not forget what it described as his “dismal record” in office. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the remarks in a statement on Monday in Abuja while …
Presidency to Jonathan: Nigerians Remember Your Record, Courts Will Decide Your Eligibility
The Presidency has said former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 general election but warned that Nigerians will not forget what it described as his “dismal record” in office.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the remarks in a statement on Monday in Abuja while reacting to comments credited to Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Gana had recently canvassed for Jonathan’s return to the presidency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that he could defeat President Tinubu in the next election.
Onanuga dismissed the claim as “absurd,” insisting that Jonathan’s administration left behind economic ruins and a legacy of mismanagement.
‘Jonathan Will Face Constitutional Hurdles’
Onanuga stated that while Jonathan had the constitutional right to run, the courts would ultimately decide whether he was eligible, given that he had already been sworn in twice as president.
“President Tinubu will welcome Jonathan into the race, but he will have his date in court to determine whether he qualifies to be sworn in for a third term,” Onanuga said.
Allegations Against Jonathan’s Administration
The presidential aide recalled that Jonathan’s six-year tenure, which ended in 2015, was marked by economic decline, widespread corruption, and mismanagement of oil revenues.
According to him, Jonathan inherited $66 billion in 2010 –$46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account but left less than $30 billion in reserves and only $2 billion in the crude account at the end of his administration, despite record oil earnings.
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He further accused the former president and his then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), of distributing security funds to friends and cronies.
Onanuga also said that under Jonathan, crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel between 2010 and 2013, yet by December 2014, the Federal Government could not pay salaries of civil servants, while at least 28 states owed workers arrears.
Tinubu’s Reforms
In contrast, Onanuga highlighted what he called Tinubu’s “giant economic strides” over the last 28 months.
He noted the removal of fuel subsidy, abolition of multiple exchange rates, and policies aimed at restoring investor confidence.
According to him, GDP grew by 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025, surpassing the International Monetary Fund’s 3.4% projection. Inflation dropped to 20.12% in August 2025, while foreign reserves rose to $42.03 billion.
He added that the naira had stabilised, infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway were underway, and security challenges were being addressed.
Opposition Criticised
Onanuga accused PDP leaders and Gana of trying to lure Jonathan back into the race for selfish, political, religious, and ethnic reasons.
He argued that Nigerians, having voted Jonathan out in 2015, would not support his return to power.
“Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians will not allow them to run it down again,” Onanuga declared.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
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