- Hundreds of young Nigerians under the “Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan” occupied the Maitama District on Wednesday, specifically Taraba Close, calling for the former president to return to power.
- The group’s leadership claims that after six months of nationwide consultations, there is a loud and unmistakable demand for Jonathan to rescue the country from its current economic and political state.
- Despite being unable to meet with the former president during the demonstration, the coalition vowed to sustain their protests until they receive a formal positive response.
The Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory witnessed a surge of political activity on Wednesday as a massive group of youths gathered at the residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying colorful placards, Eko Hot Blog reports that the demonstrators brought traffic to a standstill as they pleaded with the Otuoke-born statesman to rejoin the active political fray for the 2027 presidential election.
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Messages on the placards, such as “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench,” underscored the urgency and emotional weight behind the group’s demands.
The rally was led by Tom Ohikere, National President of the coalition, who highlighted that this move was the culmination of half a year of strategic outreach across the country.
According to Ohikere, Jonathan remains a unique unifying figure whose track record suggests he is the best candidate to address the multifaceted challenges currently facing the nation.
He emphasized that the group does not view this as a one-off event but rather the beginning of a sustained campaign of pressure.
Although Jonathan was reportedly away from his residence during the three-hour demonstration, arriving shortly after the group dispersed, the organizers made it clear they would return.
This recent surge mirrors the political climate of 2022, when several groups attempted to draft Jonathan into the 2023 race, even going as far as purchasing a nomination form for him under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
That period was marked by intense legal debates regarding his eligibility, given his previous service as both Vice President and President.
While Jonathan ultimately declined that overture, opting to remain in his role as a diplomatic envoy and statesman, the recurring nature of these calls suggests a persistent nostalgia for his administration among certain segments of the population.
Since leaving office in 2015, Goodluck Jonathan has largely avoided partisan politics, focusing instead on election observation missions and mediation efforts across the African continent.
However, the timing of this rally, coming just as INEC announced the registration of 3.4 million new voters for 2027, indicates that political maneuvering for the next general election is already in high gear.
Whether the former president will break his silence and consider a return to Aso Rock remains to be seen, but for the youths at his doorstep on Wednesday, the answer is a non-negotiable “yes.”
