A pro-Jonathan advocacy group, aptly named “Bring Back Our Goodluck,” has launched a fervent campaign in Kano State, urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to re-enter the political arena and contest the 2027 presidential election. The group contends that Nigerians were deceived in 2015, leading them to oust Jonathan’s administration, and that his return is the only viable path to rescuing the nation from the current hardships, insecurity, and societal divisions plaguing the country under the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership. This call for Jonathan’s comeback is framed not merely as desirable but as a necessary intervention to restore stability and progress to Nigeria.
The group’s National Coordinator, Dr. Grema Kyari, highlighted the perceived failures of the APC government, accusing them of failing to deliver on their promises and instead plunging the nation into a state of widespread poverty and frustration. He drew a stark contrast between the current economic climate and the relative stability experienced during Jonathan’s tenure. Kyari pointed to the affordability of essential commodities like food and fuel under Jonathan’s administration, emphasizing programs like the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin!) and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as evidence of Jonathan’s commitment to youth empowerment and economic growth. He contrasted this with the current economic hardship, characterized by a dramatic increase in food prices, leaving millions struggling with hunger.
The “Bring Back Our Goodluck” campaign strategically invokes Jonathan’s legacy as a unifying figure, highlighting his inclusive approach to governance, which saw appointments spanning various ethnic and religious backgrounds. This, they argue, makes him uniquely positioned to mend the current societal fractures and foster national unity. Furthermore, the group draws parallels to successful political comebacks on the global stage, citing examples like Donald Trump in the United States and John Mahama in Ghana, suggesting that Jonathan’s return is not unprecedented and could indeed prove successful.
The group’s appeal extends beyond Jonathan himself. They are calling on other prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others, to put aside their individual ambitions and coalesce around Jonathan as a consensus candidate. This call for unity within the opposition underscores the perceived urgency of the situation and the belief that a united front is crucial to challenge the incumbent APC government effectively. They portray the 2027 election not simply as another electoral cycle, but as a critical “rescue mission” to salvage Nigeria from the perceived detrimental effects of the APC’s governance.
The strategic choice of Kano as the location for this press conference is significant. Kano State is recognized as a major commercial and political hub in Northern Nigeria, and the group clearly intends to leverage its influence within the region. Having launched their campaign in the Northeast, their move to the Northwest signifies a calculated expansion of their efforts to garner support for Jonathan’s potential return. This underscores the group’s understanding of Kano’s political landscape and its importance in shaping national political discourse.
Dr. Kyari’s concluding remarks directly addressed Jonathan, recalling the former president’s decision to prioritize peace over power in 2015, a reference to his acceptance of the election results. He now implores Jonathan to prioritize the Nigerian people and lead them out of their current predicament. The evocative language used – “chase out bad luck, poverty, and hunger” – directly links the nation’s current struggles with the absence of “Goodluck,” further reinforcing the campaign’s central message and making a direct plea for the former president to reconsider his position and step back into the political arena. The campaign, therefore, positions Jonathan as the solution to the nation’s woes, framing his potential return as a matter of national salvation.
