By Ofili Nonso
“Our incoming Vice president, he has served two tenures as a governor and needs to move up.”
Those were the words of Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria. In a meeting with a PDP delegation held in Abuja on Wednesday evening, the former president pledged his unalloyed support for Ifeanyi Okowa, the vice presidential candidate of the PDP.
By extension, this statement meant that the former president endorsed Atiku Abubakar, as Atiku and Okowa both share the same presidential ambition. The delegation included Okowa and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi.
Jonathan was rarely seen in the activities of the PDP ever since his re-election loss in 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari. Many linked him to the opposition party APC. In June 2022, the rumors intensified that the APC has chosen the elder statesman to be President Buhari’s successor.
That same period, a coalition of Northern Groups purchased the APC’s presidential form for him, a move the elder statesman debunked as false.
At the meeting, Mr. Jonathan further stated that he was ready to work for the success of the PDP in the 2023 election.
In the meeting, Senator Okowa said the visit was to seek the former president’s guidance and blessings. He said he was confident that victory was assured in the 2023 elections.
“We are here for the fact it is difficult for the party to truly go on, even as we flag off our campaign, without formally coming to request that though we are very conversant with the fact that you are playing an elder statesman role, not just within our nation but outside the country and indeed Africa, there is a need for us to come forth to plead that you need to give us guidance.”
“You will also offer us prayers and find a way to add your voice both privately and even publicly in many situations that we call on you to speak on behalf of this nation and on behalf of the PDP,” Okowa stated.”
