The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election could plunge Nigeria into political instability.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday night, Wike dismissed the renewed campaign for Jonathan’s comeback, describing it as insincere and dangerous. According to him, many of the politicians now backing Jonathan were the same people who abandoned him during his failed re-election bid in 2015.
“Anyone saying Jonathan should return because he will serve only one term is simply looking for trouble. These are the very people who betrayed him years ago. Jonathan has earned global respect, and dragging him back into the fray is nothing but an attempt to create unnecessary conflict,” Wike said.
He argued that presenting Jonathan—or any southern politician—under the guise of a “one-term presidency” was a political gimmick that could upset the country’s power-sharing arrangement and further divide the nation.
On the economy, the former Rivers State governor admitted that Nigerians are experiencing hardship but defended President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration has taken “tough but necessary decisions” to reset the economy. He pointed to infrastructure projects across Abuja as evidence that the government is working.
“Yes, there is hardship, I cannot deny that. But no one can honestly say the government is not making efforts. The developments I see in Abuja every day prove that progress is happening,” he noted.
Wike also took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently warned of a possible revolution due to hunger and poverty. He accused Atiku of hypocrisy, questioning why he failed to address those same issues during his eight years in office.
“Atiku had the chance to lay the foundation to tackle hunger when he was vice president. He did not. Now he talks about hunger and revolution, but there is no truth in it. Personally, I don’t waste time reading his statements,” Wike said.
The debate over Jonathan’s possible return has been gaining traction in recent months. In August, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was considering both Jonathan and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as potential candidates for its 2027 presidential ticket. Mohammed described Jonathan as one of Nigeria’s most respected politicians and said the party would welcome him if he decided to make a comeback.