Director General of the Tinubu Support Group, Umar Yakasai, has dismissed fears that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential return to the presidential race could unsettle the ruling party.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS, on Thursday, Yakasai argued that Nigerians have not forgotten the economic hardship, insecurity, and corruption scandals that defined Jonathan’s administration, insisting his candidacy would hold no sway against the APC.
“While Udenka had his own right to his perspective, it does not reflect the opinion of the majority of Nigerians. “We believe that President Goodluck Jonathan has been in government for six years, and we’ve seen all the policies of his government. Despite that, Nigerians rose up in 2015 to say they wanted change, and they brought in the APC.”
He maintained that memories of Jonathan’s presidency remain vivid. “Nigerians would not have forgotten so quickly. I don’t think the candidature of former President Goodluck Jonathan will be anything to worry about as far as the APC is concerned.”
Turning to the economy, Yakasai defended President Bola Tinubu’s policies, acknowledging the initial shock from subsidy removal and currency floatation but stressing that stability had returned. “Within the last two years, the president and his team have been able to stabilise the economy. Inflation, which spiked in 2023, has come back to 2023 levels in 2025. That shows the economy is working.”
He also credited Tinubu for supporting the Dangote Refinery. “If Dangote is not enjoying the support of the government, you will not have consistently a reduction in the pump price of petroleum. But we cannot allow one industry player to have total monopoly in this country.”
On politics in Northern Nigeria, he argued that voters in the region remain firmly against Jonathan. “The North has not forgotten. Even when PDP was in power, the North consistently gave over 10 million votes to Buhari. If you place a candidate like former President Goodluck Jonathan, it’s easy for them to remember.”
He recalled the insecurity and hardship of Jonathan’s years in office. “To travel from Abuja to Kaduna under Jonathan, you would spend almost 12 hours on a five-hour journey because of over 30 checkpoints. Nigerians were consistently embarrassed. Very bad strategy.”
Recalling corruption allegations that dogged Jonathan’s administration, he said, “You remember the $2.1 billion arms deal? That case is still on. You remember when he said only complimentary cards were given to civilians? Billions of dollars were removed. So all lessons are there. All I need to do is replay them for Nigerians to remember.”
Yakasai also responded to ongoing criticisms of insecurity under Tinubu, particularly in northern states. He admitted that while some gains had been made, challenges persist.
“Yes, we’ve recorded some successes, but there are still farmlands that have not yet been accessible in Benue State, he said, referring to bandit attacks and displacement of farmers.
He also insisted that the government was tackling the crisis more effectively than previous administrations. “When President Muhammadu Buhari came in, he consistently with his military chiefs said that the system of over-policing roads was not the right thing to do. Today, despite challenges, you no longer have the kind of humiliations Nigerians faced during Jonathan’s time.”
Ahead if 2027 elections, Yakasai stressed that the ruling party was prepared to counter any opposition narrative by reminding Nigerians of the past. “All I need to do is bring a conversation from Rufai and play it on the news, and they will say, oh, that will be answers to anybody contemplating bringing Goodluck Jonathan into this contest.”
He expressed confidence that Nigerians would not return to what he described as failed leadership. “The North has consistently rejected PDP in the past, and nothing has changed. Memories are still fresh.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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