Wetin dey happen for Abuja yesterday morning na serious gist wey don catch many people attention. Thousands of youths wey dey under one group dem call Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan storm the office of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for Abuja. Dem carry placards and banners with different messages, all of dem dey beg the former president make e contest for 2027 presidential election.
The crowd wey gather na serious one. Dem overflow from Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street, spread through Farmers Market reach IBB Way for Abuja. Because of their number, morning traffic for that area scatter. People wey dey pass dey look with surprise as the youths dey chant and dance to popular Nigerian songs.
Some of the placards wey dem carry get strong messages. One read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” Another one say: “GEJ, Nigerian youths don break the medicine wey dem do you.” There was even one wey talk say: “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.” These messages show how serious these youths take the matter.
The group na Dr Tom Ohikere lead am. This Ohikere na former commissioner for information for Kogi State and now national president of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan. Dem wait for over three hours, hoping say Jonathan go show up, but the former president never come. So dem decide to read their prepared speech to the media through Ohikere.
For the statement wey dem read, Ohikere talk say dem don dey do nationwide consultation for six months. “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable,” im talk. Ohikere insist say Jonathan remain the only unifying force wey fit stop the bad things wey dey loom for Nigeria.
Interesting part na say Jonathan himself never show face to receive the crowd. The people wey gather describe themselves as ‘visitors’ and dem disperse around 1.00 p.m., just before Jonathan drive enter the office. As of the time wey dis report dey write, Jonathan never issue any official statement about the whole matter.
Meanwhile, for another part of Abuja, high-level political meeting dey hold. The meeting happen for the residence of former Senate President David Mark for Apo. The meeting bring together key figures from Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress. Observers say this one fit mean say strategic alliance dey come between the two parties.
Big names wey attend the meeting include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and prominent PDP stakeholders under Tanimu Turaki leadership. Others wey show face na former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi, and Babangida Aliyu.
The convergence of all these influential political actors from different parties don make people dey speculate more. Dem dey talk say coalition arrangement between PDP and ADC fit dey imminent. The fact say dem choose Mark residence as venue show say im still get strong influence for opposition politics, especially now wey realignments and strategic partnerships dey gain momentum.
Back to the youths protest, sources talk say Jonathan and im aides no even know about the planned visit. This one cause some confusion for im team. The coalition promise say dem go continue to engage until dem hear from the former president.
This Wednesday demonstration na just one of many calls wey different groups dey make for Jonathan to return to active politics. Other groups wey dey make similar calls include Goodluck Nigeria Movement, Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, New Nigeria Integrity Movement Middle Belt Zone, and diaspora-based groups like Goodluckans Movement 2027.
Jonathan wey serve as Nigeria president from 2010 to 2015 na person wey people know for im peaceful democratic processes stance. Im always talk say personal political ambition no suppose come at the expense of national stability.
For another development, PDP chairman Kabiru Turaki lead the National Working Committee of the party to discuss party challenges with Jonathan. After the meeting wey hold for Jonathan private office for Abuja, Jonathan reportedly assure say im go continue to be active member and support PDP future. Details of the meeting wey party share on social media don cause public reactions, with people dey talk about transparency concerns and past political mistakes of PDP.
Meanwhile, Jonathan recently talk about something wey concern young leaders. Im urge African countries to promote younger leaders wey dey between 25 to 50 years, saying dem better equipped for governance. Jonathan highlight the stamina wey leadership require, noting say older leaders fit struggle with the prolonged demands of office. Im call on young Africans to see leadership as service and emphasise say democracy depend on strong institutions, not age.
The whole situation dey show how Nigerian politics dey shape as 2027 dey approach. With youths dey protest, opposition parties dey meet, and former leaders dey get calls to return, the political landscape dey hot. Wetin go happen next na wetin everybody dey wait see.
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