BY EDMOND ODOK – Adopting former President Goodluck Jonathan as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate for the next presidential election will put the party in a pole position to retain power at the centre beyond 2023.
Anything short of such an arrangement is bound to cause electoral misfortune for the ruling party according to a political pressure group, Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPD)
The National Coordinator of CNPD, Mr Ralph Okorie, has therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to endorse the Jonathan project, saying; “There is a need for experience and continuity. The two enjoy the most cordial relationship that had ever existed between an incumbent and his immediate predecessor.”
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Okorie said the call for President Buhari and the APC leadership to endorse the former President was to ensure that candidates without a clear cut vision do not emerge as the party’s flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election.
He said encouraging candidates without clear-cut vision and goodwill to eye the Presidential Villa come 2023 is suicidal as it would amount to aiding and abetting incompetence to thrive over competence and innovation in the country.
Okorie said given the persistent calls from various quarters and groups across Nigeria for ex-President Jonathan to join the 2023 presidential race, it means the project would fly in the overall interest of Nigerians.
Offering the reasons for backing the Goodluck Jonathan 2023 project, the group said; “We acknowledge that the ripple effects of good governance are multi-generational, hence, the CNPD for Jonathan call on all Nigerians to support this agenda. We strongly believe that this administration is working round the clock to address the two major problems of security and the economy bedevilling this country.
“It will be counter-productive to bring an amateur to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari at this material time. As vanguards for Nigeria’s development, peace and unity, we want to reiterate that, our beloved country cannot afford to have a regional champion as a flagbearer.
“It is imperative that Dr Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of APC will use the best man for the job to win this election bearing in mind that anything short of a Jonathan ticket will cost APC the presidency in 2023.”
Okorie said Jonathan’s achievements while in office have continued to stand him out among all the aspirants jostling for tickets, insisting that there is no contention about his position as one of the most outstanding presidents to govern Nigeria.
The CNPD Coordinator further said; “For instance, within two weeks, Jonathan grounded the activities of Boko Haram insurgency and gave Nigeria a credible election adjudged by domestic and international observers as free and fair.
“Nigeria’s economic trajectory under his presidency was globally recognised as his national economic prowess earned the country the status of the largest economy in Africa. Today, some of the talented people who worked under his government are championing global economic transformations.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the glorious days of GEJ with Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as the minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, Akinwumi Adesina, Mohammed Pateh, to mention but a few.
“We are still yearning for the immense contribution of Akinwumi Adesina who was the brain behind Jonathan’s agricultural transformation agenda that saw the increase in agriculture produce, value chain and foreign exchange earnings from the sector.
“In terms of foreign policy, Nigeria under Jonathan saw huge foreign direct investment, FDI, and infrastructure developments due to his economic liberalist and friendly dispositions.”
Calling on Jonathan to answer the national calls given the current political mood of the country, the CNPD coordinator said his entrance into the race would give impetus to APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Also for him, Jonathan’s return to power would not only provide a favourable environment for national engagement and dialogue, but enhance the economic, foreign policy and security situation in the country.
