Wike: Politicians pushing Jonathan to contest in 2027 betrayed him in 2015

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has advised Goodluck Jonathan against joining the 2027 presidential race, insisting that the ex-president should continue enjoying his role as a statesman.

There have been speculations that Jonathan may contest the presidency, for the second time of asking, on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

However, the ex-president has been mum on the subject.

“I know Jonathan very well. He enjoys being respected internationally as a statesman and I believe he will continue in that role,” Wike said during a media parley in Abuja on Monday.

He added that those calling for a Jonathan candidacy are the same political actors who “played him” during the 2015 elections.

“People pushing Jonathan — what strength do they have? Were they not the same people who worked against him in 2015?” he asked.

The minister insisted that the PDP must avoid making decisions that could deepen its internal crisis.

“For Christ’s sake, nobody should create problems for the party. When you cause problems, you are the one to blame,” Wike said.

‘OBI’S COMEBACK COULD WRECK PDP’

Wike added that bringing Peter Obi back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as is being suggested in some quarters, would cause more harm than good.

The minister claimed that the former Anambra governor “once described the PDP as rotten” and should not be allowed to return.

“Obi was abusing the party, saying it is rotten. So now the party is suddenly good enough for him to come and contest on its platform?” he asked.

The minister said it would be wrong for the PDP to open its doors to someone who “publicly discredited the same organisation” in the past.

“That kind of ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house,” he said.

Wike added that any attempt to bring Obi back to the PDP fold would amount to “destroying the party further”.

“Anybody suggesting that Obi should return is entitled to their opinion. But if you want to destroy this party, then bring Obi back,” he said.

Obi left the PDP days before the party’s 2023 presidential primary, stating that “recent developments in the party do not support constructive contributions”.

On May 27, 2022, Obi joined the Labour Party (LP), becoming the party’s standard-bearer for the 2023 presidential election.

The politician recently pitched tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

‘I WON’T RUN AGAINST TINUBU’

The minister reiterated that he has no plans to contest the presidency against President Bola Tinubu, despite the zoning of the ticket to the south.

“I will not run,” he said.

“I have integrity and I have character. My position is clear. There is no way my appointer is there, and we are saying he should run, and then I turn around and say I want to contest?”