The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information & Strategy, has issued a scathing response to calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race, stating that while Jonathan is welcome, his eligibility must be settled in court.
Onanuga’s statement dismissed the early electoral chatter as “a cacophony of voices… signifying nothing,” but he swiftly laid out a two-pronged attack against Jonathan’s potential candidacy: a constitutional challenge and a fierce indictment of his economic legacy.
The Legal Gauntlet: A Third-Term Question
The Presidency explicitly noted that Jonathan’s eligibility hinges on a crucial constitutional interpretation regarding the number of times an individual can be sworn into the presidency.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes… But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land,” the statement read. “The jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.”
This challenge aims to utilize the courts to potentially disqualify Jonathan before the race begins.
Economic Indictment: From $66 Billion to “Dire Straits”
Onanuga launched a heavy critique of the Jonathan administration’s financial management, claiming his tenure led to the “downfall of the economy” and left the country in “dire straits.”
| Indicator | Jonathan Administration Record (2010–2015) | Presidency’s Claim |
| Crude Oil Revenue | Record high, averaging $100 per barrel (2010-2013). | Funds were mismanaged; the economy was “run aground.” |
| Foreign Reserves | Inherited $46 billion in foreign reserves. | Reserves fell to below $30 billion by 2015. |
| Excess Crude Account (ECA) | Inherited $20 billion in the ECA. | ECA was depleted to $2 billion by 2015. |
| Widespread Crisis | By December 2014, the Federal Government could no longer pay salaries, and 28 states owed workers huge arrears. | The administration engaged in “frivolous spending” and money was “freely distributed to friends and cronies.” |
Export to Sheets
The statement also alleged that under Jonathan’s watch, business moguls were allocated foreign exchange for fuel imports but “simply pocketed the dollars without importing anything,” contributing to the economic damage.
Tinubu’s “Giant Strides” Counter-Narrative
In sharp contrast, the Presidency aggressively pushed President Tinubu’s economic recovery narrative, contrasting it directly with Jonathan’s record.
The statement highlights recent successes:
- The economy is stabilizing after “bold decisions” like removing the fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates.
- Q2 2025 GDP grew by 4.23%, the highest in four years, beating IMF projections.
- Inflation decreased to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years.
- Foreign reserves now stand at $42.03 billion.
The Presidency concluded with a warning: Jonathan and his party “broke the economy before,” and millions of Nigerians will not allow them to return and “run it down again.”
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