By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ebele Jonathan, since his gentlemanly exit from the Villa in 2015, coupled with his peace building efforts in countries like Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Kenya, and the rest, has managed to earn himself reputation beyond the country.

Consequently, the Sunhak 2025 peace prize award was given to him; solidifying his contribution to peace building and conflict resolution over the years across the globe. The gentleman has been identified with ‘water’, as it is known to have no enemies.

In what looks like a plot twist in the Nigeria’s political terrain, while the country has its gaze fixated on the coalition leaders and the ruling party for a showdown in the forthcoming presidential election, an anonymous personality revealed that this gentleman has considered running for the office one more time. Although no confirmation has been made from the former president himself on the matter, but it’s concerning that the anonymous personality is said to be a political associate of him, and he keeping mum ever since the revelation.

Assuming the revelation is factual that he is going to contest in the forthcoming presidential election, what are his chances of securing the needed numbers to emerge as the president again? Walk with us as the Nigerian Tracker’s political correspondent, Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa, unravel the puzzle with political analysts:

Political Analysts Unraveled The Puzzle

Dr. Kabir Sufi, a political analyst, was asked if Good luck Jonathan would attract votes from regions beyond his if he decides to contest in the forthcoming presidential candidates and he responded that for the fact that his call to contest again is coming from another region(North), there’s every likelihood that he will enjoy votes from other regions:

“His candidacy would attract votes from other regions apart from the south south, especially from the three regions in the north where the call is coming from.”

On his chances of negatively affecting the opposition potency to truncate Tinubu’s re-election bid, Dr. Sufi analysed that unless the coalition leaders and Jonathan himself rally round a single candidate to race with the ruling party in the forthcoming election, the opposition votes would be split and that would automatically give president Tinubu the win:

“It’s obvious that he would contest under the platform of his own party, PDP. And if that happens while the ADC and SDP field their candidates, there’s definitely going to be vote split which would automatically make president Tinubu to win the election.”

Furthermore, Dr. Sufi disclosed that Jonathan’s candidacy would be appealing to the electorates, especially the conservative politicians due to his style of politics:

“Many people find him appealing because of his mild personality and his non involvement in a do-or-die politics. Definitely, that would boost his chances.”

The analyst noted that people’s perception of Azikiwe Jonathan since his rumored candidacy has been the ‘wait-and-see’ strategy:

“Well, there are a lot of uncertainties in the forthcoming presidential election, but since the rumor about his candidacy, people have adopted the ‘wait-and-see’ strategy to see under which platform he will contest, his running mate, and among other factors.”

In an engagement with another seasoned analyst, Nasiru Danjuma Yunusa, he, like Dr. Sufi, was of the opinion that Jonathan would definitely enjoy the support of other regions aside his:

“Yes, he would attract supports from other regions beyond the South South.”

In his response to Good luck Jonathan’s candidacy affecting the chances of the opposition coalition against Tinubu, Mr. Nasir buttressed thus below:

“Yes, he would affect their chances against Tinubu, except that they adopt him as the sole candidate, the race would be unhindered for the incumbent president.”

The analyst also noted that his role in peace building across the country and beyond is another element that would add to his chances of coming out appealing to the Nigerian populace.

But then, Mr. Nasir remarked that Nigerians should not expect anything different, as he would not do anything different from the present administration:

“Though, Nigerians should not expect any better treatment if he decides to contest and then win eventually because, there’s nothing he can do differently.”

Voices From The Street Of Nigeria

Emmanuel Anuku, a Lagos State resident, recalled that one of Jonathan’s weaknesses was the exacerbated nature of corruption during his administration:

“It was during his administration we heard of numerous cases of money laundering. Though it has been happening since the history of Nigeria, but his was too much.”

When asked if Jonathan’s candidacy would jeopardize Peter Obi’s chances of winning the election in the next presidential election, Emmanuel responded that it will considering the fact that they are from the south region:

“To be accurate, his candidacy would truncate Peter Obi’s chances because the supporters of the later from the south south region who voted for him during the 2023 election will not again do that if their brother is in the race.”

He continued, “Nigerians have been yearning for Jonathan’s days in the office as the president considering his policies targeted towards livelihood which went extinct immediately Buhari took over. So, his decision to come back will be a setback for Obi. But if they decide to go consensus wise, with Good luck Jonathan stepping down for or supporting Peter Obi, such unity will give Obi the win.”

Taking into cognizance the administration of former president Jonathan, AbdulMajid Bello, a Kogite who resides in Zaria, Kaduna State, also noted that the former president faulted so badly in the security architecture of the country:

“The economy was actually stable during the administration of former president Jonathan. Food prices were stable unlike the current administration that everything has gone bad.”

“But, his major weaknesses were high rate of corruption and insurgency which made Nigerians to vote him out,” he added.

Mr. Bello also pointed out that with the system of electioneering manipulations in the country at the moment, Jonathan doesn’t have any chance of winning if he should contest. On that note, he was asked if he will vote for the former president if the rumor turns out to be true and he responded, with affirmation:

“I will definitely vote for him.”

The respondent also posited that Ebele Jonathan has the support of the north more than Obi if he decides to contest. Buttressing further to express how strong Jonathan’s candidacy would be, he predictably assured that the votes from the south would be shared equally between the two.

Interacting with another respondent, Nazir Kashim, also a Kogite but Abuja based, he applauded the former president deducing from his managerial style of the nation’s economy during his tenure:

“Good luck Jonathan actually managed the economy very well during his tenure. The level of poverty then was very low compared to now which is very bad.”

He continued, “But the issue of insecurity birthed by the Boko Haram insurgency that almost wiped out Borno State gave his administration a serious blow which made it easy for the APC to come into power.”

Mr. Nazir, while noting the achievements and setbacks of the former president, scored him 6/10.

When asked if he would cast his vote for Jonathan if he decides to contest in the forthcoming presidential election, Mr. Nazir dejectedly answered ‘No’:

“No, I won’t vote him!”

He remarked that Ebele Jonathan is politically weak, and too holy to be at the helm of affairs of this country; hence his reason why he would not cast his vote for him.

Abubakar Mohammed Kaffe, an indigene of Sokoto State, recalled and also extolled the former president on how he showed concern for welfarism and stable economy while in office while, at the same time, outlining his shortcomings:

“He actually boost the economy and showed concern for welfarism.”

“Basic needs for livelihood were subsidized during his tenure,” he continued.

“But just like the human being that we are, he faulted in some areas of which insecurity topped the list”

On his choice of casting his vote for the former president if he decides to run for the office again, Mr. Kaffe sat on the fence:

“It depends.”

When pressed to come out clear, he responded that the future is pregnant, and no one knows what might come as regards his decision to contest or not. And also for the fact that there are other contestants warming up for the moment to come, his choice of who to vote for remains undecided for now.

Interestingly, a Niger State indigene, Mahmoud Kudu Baba, while responding to the conversation, objected vehemently, the claim that the former president has made up his mind to contest again:

“It’s a blatant lie, and a propaganda obviously to fidget the opposition coalition.”

He claimed that it’s the handiwork of the mischievous players in the PDP camp who want to truncate the coalition’s triumph in the forthcoming election.

“Assuming it’s true, and he later contest, he will not win. Nigerians would not suddenly develop amnesia as to how he piloted the affairs of this country during his tenure because he conceded defeat in 2015.”

The potential re-entry of Goodluck Jonathan into Nigeria’s presidential race is more than just a political storyline; it is a pivotal variable in an already complex equation. While his esteemed international reputation as a peacemaker and his perceived gentle demeanor hold a unique appeal across regional divides, his candidacy ultimately presents a double-edged sword. On one hand, it embodies a promise of unity and non-combative politics. On the other, it threatens to fracture the opposition and inadvertently pave an easier path for the incumbent’s re-election.

The analyses of Dr. Sufi and Mr. Nasir converge on a critical point: Jonathan’s impact is entirely contingent on the strategic cohesion or lack thereof among the opposition parties. The prevailing “wait-and-see” attitude among the electorate underscores that his intentions alone are not enough; the platform, the alliances, and the running mate will ultimately define his viability.

Therefore, the question remains unanswered. Will Goodluck Jonathan be the catalyst that unites a fractured opposition, or will he become the spoiler who splits the vote? For now, the nation watches and waits, as the gentleman peacemaker from Otuoke holds the cards that could redefine the 2025 political showdown.