Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran, widely recognized as Jandor, has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to calls to re-enter the 2027 presidential race, warning that such a move would be politically detrimental.
Speaking to the press in Lagos on Sunday, Adediran, the 2023 Lagos PDP governorship candidate and leader of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, emphasized that Jonathan stands little chance of overcoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He described any attempt by Jonathan to contest as a significant “political gamble,” highlighting Tinubu’s unparalleled influence in the political arena.
Adediran stated, “I oppose the notion that Jonathan is the sole contender capable of challenging Tinubu, often justified by his popularity and experience. However, it was Tinubu who outmaneuvered Jonathan from the outside. Their political journeys are fundamentally different.”
He urged Jonathan to remain retired rather than fall prey to those encouraging him toward what he termed a “disgraceful defeat.”
“There’s a stark difference between someone who unexpectedly finds themselves in the presidential seat and someone who fought relentlessly against all odds to secure that position. The latter overcame numerous obstacles to get there, unlike the former who simply woke up to the presidency,” he explained.
Adediran also recommended that Jonathan take heed of his wife, Patience Jonathan’s public advice against contesting.
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He added, “Tinubu is a seasoned political strategist who is unlikely to be unseated by Jonathan or any other candidate in 2027.”
While dismissing Jonathan’s prospects of defeating Tinubu, Jandor commended the current president’s governance and economic initiatives, noting their positive impact.
“Though challenges remain, the President has demonstrated boldness by reclaiming our shared resources from a privileged few through the removal of fuel subsidies, thereby tripling allocations to states and local governments. This ensures funds are no longer hoarded centrally but are available to improve lives at all levels,” he remarked.
He contrasted this with the Buhari administration, recalling how states often returned from FAAC meetings empty-handed.
Adediran also praised Tinubu’s management of the foreign exchange system, stating, “The era of overnight billionaires exploiting forex corruption is over. The President has effectively curtailed such practices.”
While acknowledging that these reforms have brought short-term difficulties, he maintained that the increased funding to states and local governments, if properly utilized, will soon alleviate these hardships.
“On a broad scale, the economy is turning a corner, but it takes time for these improvements to reach the grassroots,” he noted.
Finally, Adediran called on the Nigerian Armed Forces to fully back President Tinubu in tackling the nation’s security challenges.