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A former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Prince Kassim Afegbua on Sunday said former President Goodluck Jonathan should not rubbish his existing credentials as a true democrat by contesting in the 2027 presidential election.
Afegbua in a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT, said those goading Jonathan to run in 2027 are hell-bent on destroying his good reputation which he achieved by accepting defeat and handing over to his opponent, the late Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
Afegbua said Jonathan will lose woefully if he decides to run against President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to seek reelection on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“First and foremost, I will personally appeal to former President Jonathan not to rubbish his existing credentials of being seen as a true democrat who was defeated in a presidential election and he accepted the outcome of that election without spilling blood. That kind of conduct has elevated his statesmanship to the point that everywhere, people are inviting him for election observation, international awards, public speaking and all of that. That is the hallmark of the recognition given to him by that rare conduct he displayed in 2015.
“Now, those who are urging him to contest in 2027 are either selfish or they want to squander the existing goodwill that he has. If he thinks that what he did in 2015 by accepting defeat is what will launch him into national stardom, seeking presidential election, he will be shocked that Nigeria has moved on.
“We have passed the era of former President Jonathan. There is nothing so spectacular about that government. That was the reason why he was defeated ab initio. If he had performed exceptionally against all permutations, he wouldn’t have lost that election.
“It was because of the mismanagement of the country under president Jonathan that made Nigerians remove him with their votes in 2015.”
Speaking further, Afegbua said President Bola Tinubu’s bold reforms which are already yielding positive results will guarantee him victory in the 2027 general elections.
He also said the recent stratement made by former First Lady, Patience Jonathan that he will campaign with Oluremi Tinubu in 2027 shows that Jonathan’s defeat will begin in his home.
“President Tinubu is already consolidating our economic trajectory. He is already doing some novel things that is going to stabilise the economy and also give investors some level of confidence to come into the country and do business.
“So, we are not going to be dragged down on that route of a Jonathan presidency. Jonathan will be a good man in terms of human behaviour but the behaviour for presidency is a different ball game. You don’t use kindness to govern a nation. You use policies, firmness, boldness, courage to take tough decisions and preside over a nation as complex as Nigeria.
“For me, my honest advice is for president Jonathan to run away from those political scavengers and financial manipulators who are goading him on the path of political perfidy. He should go and read his binoculars very well and he should also gaze into the crystal balls.
“The moment you hear madam Patience Jonathan saying I am supporting the incumbent president and I will campaign with Remi Tinubu, you should know that Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat will start from him home. I will advise him to listen to the voice of reason to stay away from this”.