Who Are Those Pushing Jonathan Presidency? -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

After an initial denial of rumours that he will join the ruling party, the former Nigerian president, Good luck Jonathan, has finally ditched his party. His defection to APC after long speculations has continued to elicit mixed reactions in the country. Prior to his defection, many signals emerged that the former president had stopped attending activities organised by his former party. The Bayelsa state’s gubernatorial election conducted in 2020 in which his former party lost to APC before court ruled in its favour suggested Jonathan’s indifferent to PDP affairs. Does Jonathan defection has to do with how the party treats him during and after the 2015 general elections? While the former president might have lost the 2015 election due to the zoning arrangements of PDP which he flouted and refused to abide, the betrayal and backstabbing that ensued among trusted party loyalists leading to his resounding defeat remains fresh in his mind. The emerging of new PDP split group lead by Atiku Abubakar, Saraki, Tambuwal and other heavy party juggernauts who abandoned him at the tail end of party’s convention had wrecked great havoc to his re-election bid. With these notably politicians who deserted him returned to PDP, Jonathan would not feel comfortable staying with them.

Jonathan by virtue of his position as former president should be the leader of the party. However, Nelson Wike, Rivers State governor has hijacked the party and has since been calling the shot. Wike and his surrogates have firmly controlled the party and failed to consult or engage the former president on party’s decisions. The in ability of PDP to respect or recognize Jonathan as their leader must have dampened his moral and forced him to change mind. One imagined how the former president who was governor, vice president and president under PDP could suddenly ditch his benefactor. The former APC national chairman extra ordinary convention committee, mai Mala Buni, must take a credit for Jonathan defection. The Yobe state governor during his stint as protem chairman visited and subsequently woe him to APC. Does Malam Buni and his co-travellers sign a pact that in case he joins the party, they would throw their weight behind his presidential ambition? Jonathan did not only join the ruling party but also buy form through northern youth group.

The Good luck Jonathan presidential ambition has raised some important questions. First, is the ruling party toeing the dangerous path of PDP by jettison its zoning arrangement? With Buhari completing his tenure, one will advice for equity and justice, there is the need for power to be shifted to South. Also, during its recent convention, APC opted for Abdullahi Adamu, a northerner as the National chairman. This development has further buttressed that, South will produce the next president. Moreover, with Jonathan joining the presidential race, what will be the future of south-west politicians, especially Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who sees his contest as life time ambition. It is not understatement to say, the victories of president Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019 are to the credit of Tinubu and other south-west politicians. If APC fields Jonathan, the south-west politicians will unite and reject the party. To them, having played the second fiddle in the previous elections,2023 ticket should be exclusively reserved for them. If the ticket is not given to them, there is every tendency of anti-party, as these politicians will enter into alliance with either PDP or Kwankwaso’s NNPP to ensure APC loses election in the region.

Second, who are those dragging or promoting Jonathan presidency and what are their motives? It was reported that, Jonathan presidency has a tacit support of two northern governors. One from northwest and the other one from north east. If their plan works as scheduled, Jonathan promised to pick one of them as running mate. The legal technicalities that may await the former president will unarguably discourage APC to give him its ticket. Jonathan took an oath of office twice. If he is allowed to contest and luckily wins the poll, Jonathan will take his third oath of office which is unconstitutional. This will open up serious court litigations.

What will happen if the opposition PDP finally settles for Atiku Abubakar as their candidate? Will APC stick to Jonathan presidency? The former president had received an accolades globally for conducting free and fair election in 2015. Jonathan was the first African president who conceded defeat called and congratulated the winner even before result was announced. His diplomacy performances since the time he left office have endeared him to many Nigerians. The former president should have kept a low profile, continued with his diplomacy engagement and advice the country where necessary. If the former president throw his hat on the ring, what will be his fate during and after the 2023 general elections?

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State. 08169056963.