Will Former President Goodluck Jonathan Give in to Increasing Pressure? – THISDAYLIVE

Back in December, the posters in Kano said it plainly: “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for President, 2027. He is our Messiah.”  But the man himself, serene as ever, seems unbothered. At a recent ceremony in Seoul, where he was awarded the prestigious Sunhak Peace Prize, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan gave no hints of political ambition, only reflections on peace, dialogue, and the fragility of democracy.

Still, the question persists: Could Jonathan return?

It’s not the first time whispers of a comeback have trailed the former president. His image, a symbol of Nigeria’s only peaceful transfer of power from an incumbent, carries nostalgic weight, especially amid growing economic and social frustrations. But nostalgia does not equal intent. Despite pressure from some within the PDP and hints of a brewing opposition realignment, Jonathan has repeatedly stated, both directly and through surrogates, that he is not interested in contesting.

More telling is where he spends his time. While politics in Nigeria churns, Jonathan travels: advocating democracy in Liberia, mediating in Mali, and steering the West African Elders Forum. His foundation remains active in governance and peace-building, not electoral mobilisation. The financial component of his peace prize, he announced, would be channelled to support these initiatives.

Strategically, a return appears improbable. Jonathan would have to wrest the PDP ticket from contenders like Atiku who critics have uncharitably described as a hungrier alternative. Even if he could accomplish that, Jonathan would still have to navigate the memories of his 2015 loss, then go on to facing Tinubu, whose political machine, unlike Jonathan’s, is humming.

Even if a “mega opposition coalition” forms, it’s unclear if Jonathan is willing to anchor it. His silence, in this context, speaks volumes.

So, is there hope for a Jonathan rerun? Going by all the hints, only in the hearts of loyalists and the murals of Kano. For now, the man seems more invested in post-presidential statesmanship than in re-entering the electoral arena.