• Be careful about 2027 ambition, Kukah advises
• Your candidacy no threat to APC, Yakasai replies ex-President
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has made a strong case for an independent judiciary, warning that no investor will commit funds to an economy where the judiciary is compromised and subject to political control.
But like Spurinna, the Roman soothsayer, warned Julius Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March”, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has urged Jonathan to be cautious as he weighs calls to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of Tinubu Support Group, Umar Yakasai, asserted that the former President’s potential candidacy would hold no significant sway against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as “Nigerians have not forgotten the economic hardship, insecurity and corruption scandals” that, according to him, defined his administration.
During the Democracy Dialogue of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, the former President noted judicial independence as crucial to building a stable and trustworthy business environment.
“It affects everybody. For example, no businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where a government functionary can dictate to judges what judgment they will give. No man brings his money to invest in that economy because they are taking a big risk,” he said.
For Nigeria to secure its future, he added, leaders must uphold justice irrespective of personal or political interests.
“If we must build a nation for our children and grandchildren, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right,” he said.
At the Accra Dialogue, Kukah praised Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015, describing it as an act of sacrifice and honour, as well as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that Jonathan had the power and resources to resist the outcome of the election, but chose peace, a decision Kukah said restored hope in democratic governance.
The cleric, however, cautioned the former President to tread carefully in considering a political comeback.
Quoting former Defence Minister, Gen Theophilus Danjuma, the bishop said: “The voice of the devil is not so far from the voice of God. Listen very carefully to those who want to use you as an instrument for the elongation of their interests, and not your interests or the interests of Nigeria.”
He urged Jonathan to reflect deeply, pray and make a decision guided by conscience and the national interest.
Speaking on Arise TV, yesterday, Yakasai argued that the lingering memories of Jonathan’s troubled tenure undermine any prospect of his political comeback gaining substantial traction.
“We believe that Jonathan was in government for six years, and we have seen all the policies of his government. Despite that, Nigerians rose up in 2015 to say they wanted change, and they brought in the APC,” he said.
Yakasai stressed that Nigerians retain vivid recollections of the challenges under Jonathan, making his potential return to the presidential race a non-issue for the APC.
He added, “Nigerians would not have forgotten so quickly. I don’t think the candidature of former President Jonathan will be anything to worry about as far as the APC is concerned. During his tenure, to travel from Abuja to Kaduna, you would spend almost 12 hours on a five-hour journey because of over 30 checkpoints. Nigerians were consistently embarrassed. Very bad strategy.”
Pointing to corruption allegations, he mentioned the $2.1 billion arms deal controversy. “That case is still on. You remember when he said only complimentary cards were given to civilians? Billions of dollars were removed. So, all the lessons are there. All I need to do is replay them for Nigerians to remember.”
Yakasai contrasted Jonathan’s tenure with the efforts under President Bola Tinubu, defending the latter’s economic policies. “Within the last two years, the President and his team have been able to stabilise the economy. Inflation, which spiked in 2023, has come back to 2023 levels in 2025. That shows the economy is working.”
Regarding Northern Nigeria, Yakasai asserted that voters remain firmly against Jonathan.
