Onoh Advises Jonathan Not To Contest 2027 Presidency

In a strongly worded open letter and public statement, the chairman of the Forum of Former Members of Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge (Dr.) Josef Onoh, has passionately appealed to former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan not to yield to pressures urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election. Onoh, known for his forthright views on national issues, described Jonathan as a highly respected global statesman whose 2015 decision to concede defeat exemplified putting the lives of Nigerians and national peace above personal political ambition.

"President Jonathan's act in 2015 remains a shining example of democratic maturity and statesmanship not only in Nigeria but across Africa and the world," Dr. Onoh stated. "He chose peace and the sanctity of lives over clinging to power. That singular decision cemented his place as a respected elder statesman. Returning to the arena now risks tarnishing that invaluable legacy."

Onoh highlighted stark political realities and calculations that make a Jonathan victory in 2027 highly improbable. With incumbent President Bola Tinubu seeking re-election and likely retaining strongholds in the Southwest, any Jonathan candidacy would face severe vote-splitting in key southern regions. Peter Obi, with his massive following especially among the youth and in the Southeast, would significantly erode Jonathan's potential support in the Southeast and South-South.

"This is not speculation but basic political arithmetic," Onoh noted. "Tinubu dominates the Southwest machinery and votes. Obi commands loyalty in the Southeast and substantial crossover in the South-South. A Jonathan entry fragments the southern votes, making it mathematically near-impossible to secure the required nationwide majority and 25% in enough states. The North, with its bloc voting patterns, would likely exploit this division."

Onoh said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan's former platform, remains deeply divided with rival factions, ongoing litigations, and weakened structures since 2015. A unified opposition front appears elusive. The ruling APC and Tinubu's control of federal machinery, combined with economic and structural factors, tilt the field heavily.

Dr. Onoh further recalled his personal support for Jonathan in the past while emphasizing the need to protect his legacy:** "President Jonathan should recall that last year, I defended his eligibility to run for office. However, that eligibility should not propel him into a contest that leads to failure and damage to his hard-earned image. If I had any belief that he was going to win, I would be the first person to promote his candidacy — both financially and otherwise — just as I did for President Bola Tinubu in 2023, without expecting anything in return, driven only by belief in his mandate. In the same spirit, I solidly stood by him together with the late Dr. Dora Akunyili in 2010 during the era of the Doctrine of Necessity, supporting his emergence to replace the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua."

Onoh warned Jonathan against being pressured by the same politicians and forces who contributed to his ouster in 2015 and now seek to use him for their narrow benefits. "These are individuals and groups with private agendas who abandoned or worked against you previously. Their sudden embrace is not rooted in genuine love for your leadership but in calculations to divide votes, advance personal or zonal interests, or weaken stronger opposition contenders," he cautioned.

"History will judge harshly if you allow yourself to be used as a pawn and discarded afterward. Your place in history is already secured as the man who prioritized Nigeria's stability."

Onoh concluded with a timeless word of wisdom: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."