A pro-Jonathan pressure group, ‘Bring Back Our Goodluck,’ called for former President Goodluck Jonathan to stage a political return and contest the 2027 presidential election, claiming that Nigerians were “misled in 2015” into voting against his administration.
Dr Grema Kyari, the group’s National Coordinator, stated at a press conference at the Aminu Kano Centre for Democracy, Research, and Training, Mambayya House, that the former president remained the “surest path to rescue Nigeria” from the hardship, insecurity, and divisions caused by the All Progressives Congress-led government.
Kyari stated that Jonathan’s return was not only desired but also necessary, citing worldwide examples of political comebacks such as Donald Trump in the United States and John Mahama in Ghana.
“We were misled in 2015 by the APC under the late Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, and Chief Bisi Akande. They sold Nigerians deceitful promises, which they never fulfilled. Instead of progress, the country has been plunged into hunger, poverty, and frustration,” Kyari told journalists.
The group maintained that Jonathan ruled over Nigeria’s final era of economic stability, citing relatively steady food prices, reasonable petrol, agricultural reforms, and youth development programmes like YouWin! and SURE-P.
Kyari contrasted this with what he saw as today’s harsh reality, highlighting the dramatic spike in food prices.
“Under Jonathan, a bag of rice sold for about N7,800; today the same bag costs between N80,000 and N100,000. Millions have been pushed into hunger.”
The coordinator also stated that Jonathan’s history as a unifying leader who nominated officials across ethnic and religious lines made him the ideal choice to heal Nigeria’s conflicts.
In addition to pushing Jonathan to run, the group urged other opposition leaders—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others—to “shelve personal ambition” and support Jonathan as a consensus candidate.
Kyari stated that 2027 would not be “just another election year” but rather a “rescue mission” to halt what he regarded as the APC government’s destruction of democracy.
The effort began in the Northeast and has now expanded to the Northwest, which Kyari describes as “the heartbeat of commerce and political influence in Northern Nigeria.”
He closed the press briefing with a direct appeal to Jonathan:
“In 2015, you chose peace over power. In 2027, Nigeria needs you to choose the people again. Let us chase out bad luck, poverty, and hunger. Let us bring back our Goodluck.”
