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By Oscar Okhifo
The Presidency has reacted to calls by former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, for former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race, saying Nigerians will not forget Jonathan’s “dismal record in office.”
In a statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Jonathan is free to contest but cautioned that his candidature would face legal scrutiny over constitutional eligibility, having already been sworn in twice.
“Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again.
” President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land,” Onanuga stated.
The Presidency accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders of attempting to lure Jonathan back into the race for selfish reasons and described Gana’s claim that Jonathan could defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 as “delusional” and “comedic.”
According to the statement, Jonathan’s six years in office were marked by waste, corruption, and economic decline.
The Presidency noted that Jonathan inherited $66 billion in foreign reserves and excess crude savings in 2010 but depleted the funds to under $32 billion by 2015, despite record oil revenues averaging $100 per barrel.
“By December 2014, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least, 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears,” the statement said
Onanuga also alluded to the $2 billion left in the Excess Crude Account when Jonathan exited power.
The Presidency further accused Jonathan’s government of diverting security funds, saying, “Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), freely distributed security funds to friends and cronies.”
In contrast, Onanuga said President Tinubu’s administration has taken “bold economic decisions” in the last 28 months, such as removing the fuel subsidy, unifying exchange rates, and restoring investor confidence.
He listed key achievements, including GDP growth of 4.23% in Q2 2025, a drop in inflation to 20.12% in August being the lowest in three years and foreign reserves of $42.03 billion.
“The nation has turned the corner. Our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration.”
The statement also highlighted road infrastructure projects and ongoing security interventions.
The Presidency concluded that while Jonathan is welcome to join the race, Nigerians “will not allow those who broke the economy before to return and run it down again.”
Jonathan is yet to declare his intention to contest in 2027, and his media office is yet to respond to Onanuga’s remarks.