Jonathan 2027? Kachikwu Alleges Northern Elites' Push

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress has alleged that northern elites are pushing former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 race in a bid to diminish the chances of President Bola Tinubu, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and other southern aspirants.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Kachikwu claimed that leaders within the ADC coalition had told Obi that, as an Igbo man, he stood no chance of securing northern votes and should therefore settle for a vice-presidential slot under the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

He also disclosed that the party’s legal team had submitted petitions to relevant law enforcement agencies, challenging what he described as the unlawful takeover of the ADC by former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in support of Atiku’s presidential ambition.

Since the ADC was unveiled on July 1 as a platform for a coalition of opposition leaders to challenge President Tinubu, divisions between the North and South-East have become more pronounced.

Prominent figures within the coalition, such as Obi and former APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, who have both shown interest in the 2027 presidential race, are reportedly struggling to gain acceptance in the North and even within the party.

Meanwhile, northern leaders have continued to criticise President Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of being responsible for the region’s ongoing challenges.

It was, however, reported recently that Jonathan had consulted some northern elites and hinted at running for the 2027 election.

At the press briefing on Friday, Kachikwu admitted that tribe, religion, and region would keep dominating Nigerian politics until the old political elite are removed.

He stated, “Atiku Abubakar and a few northern elites who have for decades held political power but did nothing to alleviate the undereducation and attendant impoverishment in northern Nigeria for political purposes are at it again.

“They have armed the weapons of region, religion, tongue, tribe, and poverty as they convince millions of poor northerners that a southern President Tinubu hates them and is the cause of their poverty.”

“On a daily basis, they are spreading deliberate falsehoods against not only President Tinubu but against all potential southern aspirants for the office of President. A Peter Obi has been told in very clear terms that he will never get northern votes as an Igbo man and, as such, he should accept to be Atiku’s running mate.

“In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race, who is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition.

“In all these, Nigerians are the losers because meritocracy, which can only thrive when ceteris paribus is in play, has been thrown out of the door because, in truth, ceteris paribus doesn’t exist in the Nigerian ecosystem. Sadly, I am now here before you championing the cause of a southern presidency, a notion that before now was totally against all I believed in. Nigeria has indeed happened to me.”

Kachikwu called on Nigerians to reject the former Vice President and his allies, accusing them of lacking commitment to a fair and just Nigeria, adding that, “We must all come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.”

Commenting on Kachikwu’s allegation, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, stated that the former Vice President was a detribalised Nigerian who did not view the country through the lens of region or ethnicity for political gain.

He maintained that the ADC-led coalition was established with the country at its core.

He stated, “Mr Kachikwu is an agent of Tinubu’s APC. When was the last time he (Atiku) even spoke publicly? Since the unveiling of the ADC coalition, he hasn’t said a word. It’s unfortunate that, in doing Tinubu’s bidding to destroy every opposition platform, he resorts to manufacturing lies that never happened.

“Nigerians know Atiku Abubakar well. As his spokesperson, I can say that. And maybe I need to reintroduce Atiku to Nigerians: he is a detribalised Nigerian. He does not see religion or region—North, East, South, or West. His impact speaks for itself. I don’t know where Kachikwu’s claims are coming from.

“We are seeing the level of desperation. That’s unfortunate. I advise him to go back and research Atiku Abubakar. Atiku is not a bigot. He does not promote tribalism. That is not who he is. His only ‘sin’ is that, like many Nigerians, he is tired of the hardship that the Tinubu administration has inflicted on the country—poverty, insecurity, economic failure, and widespread suffering.

“So he decided to join others to say no to one-party dictatorship and political intimidation. That is not democracy. Democracy is about choice. The majority must have their way, but the minority must also have their say. If we don’t get our democratic culture right, governance will continue to elude us. That is Atiku’s only crime.”

He stated that the former Vice President and his allies were committed to rescuing the country, adding that Kachikwu and his likes couldn’t derail the coalition. “In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race, who is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition.

“In all these, Nigerians are the losers because meritocracy, which can only thrive when ceteris paribus is in play, has been thrown out the door because, in truth, ceteris paribus doesn’t exist in the Nigerian ecosystem. Sadly, I am now here before you championing the cause of a southern presidency, a notion that before now was totally against all I believed in. Nigeria has indeed happened to me.”

Kachikwu called on Nigerians to reject the former Vice President and his allies, accusing them of lacking commitment to a fair and just Nigeria, adding, “We must all come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.”

The ADC 2023 candidate said he had earlier warned of a plot by old politicians to hijack the party for Atiku’s 2027 bid.

He added, “I also warned that Peter Obi and other presidential hopefuls in this coalition of geriatrics were being duped, as Atiku’s men had been carefully positioned to take over the ADC party structure across the country. Today I have been proven right, as former Governor Obi and his people now realise that this coalition is indeed a one-man power grab.

“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a man who claims affinity and friendship with the South, does not believe any southerner deserves to be president of Nigeria. Former Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan are alive to attest to this uncomfortable truth. In their desperation to hijack the ADC, they deliberately perpetrated fraud, of which I now present evidence to you today.

“I have here before you a term of settlement entered as judgment in the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, holden at Port Harcourt with Appeal No: CA/PH/225/2023 between the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Engineer Ede Lawrence as appellants, and some of the ADC state chairmen as respondents.”

He maintained that the ADC-led coalition was established with the country at its core.

“Nigerians know Atiku Abubakar well. As his spokesperson, I can say that. And maybe I need to reintroduce Atiku to Nigerians: he is a detribalised Nigerian. He does not see religion or region, North, East, South, or West. His impact speaks for itself. I don’t know where Kachikwu’s claims are coming from.

He stated that the former Vice President and his allies were committed to rescuing the country, adding that Kachikwu and his likes couldn’t derail the coalition.

“We are working together to give Nigerians a viable alternative, a platform (ADC) that offers real choice beyond the APC. Atiku Abubakar has made sacrifices for this country. He did so under military rule when his businesses and family were targeted, and he went into exile.

“To him, no sacrifice is too big to make for Nigeria. He is committed to reclaiming the country and strengthening our democracy. He is ready to rebuild this nation and restore our economy.

“One billion Katukus cannot stop this train. They can manufacture lies and attack the coalition, but they picked the wrong target. This coalition is united and strong. Nigeria is at the center of what we are fighting for, and we have the support of the people. That is what matters,” he stated.

Similarly, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, maintained that the party’s constitution remained intact.

Abdullahi described the ADC coalition as united and strong enough to challenge President Tinubu and urged anyone with proof of constitutional violation to present it.

He stated, “The coalition is united and formidable to achieve the mandate that we set for ourselves, which is to rescue Nigeria.

“There is nothing in the constitution of the ADC that we have contravened. We are on solid legal ground, and if anyone has any evidence to show that we have violated our constitution, they are free to challenge us.

“But we are not going to continue responding to people who only want to keep making noise. So, we don’t have time for that. But if anyone has any evidence that we have violated our constitution, then they should bring it forward.”