Last week’s visit of traditional and political leaders of Ogbia kingdom in Bayelsa and Rivers states to Abuja to endorse President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid may have left former President Goodluck Jonathan rethinking his 2027 plans, sources close to the ex-president have revealed.
The sources also disclosed that the recent defection of Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Jonathan’s Bayelsa State, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Tinubu’s All Progressives Party (APC), may have heightened Jonathan’s political limbo.
Prior to Diri’s defection and the visit by Ogbia leaders, offered the sources, former President Jonathan, himself an Ogbia son, was believed to be under intense pressure from some powerful northern political interests to run against Tinubu in 2027. Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, even offered to drop his presidential ambition should Jonathan decide to run.
Seemingly heightening the political stakes, Jonathan’s cousin and industrialist, Azibaola Robert in early September stated that the former president, who lost re-election in 2015, was constitutionally qualified to seek another term in office.
However, very little has been heard of Azibaola ever since early November when Governor Diri declare for Tinubu’s APC. Azibaola ‘s silence became more pronounced
after Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, two weeks ago, became the last of the six governors in the South -south zone to defect to the APC.
Earlier, in early May, Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience, ruled out the possibility of her husband running against Tinubu in 2027. Instead, said the former first lady, she and her husband would support Tinubu to reciprocate the support he lent them in 2011.
Two months before Dame Jonathan spoke, a prominent Niger Delta leader, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, urged leaders of the zone to support Tinubu ‘s re-election in 2027.
On the delegation which met President Tinubu last Wednesday at the State House were Obanobhan Ogbia 111, His Royal Majesty Dumaro Charles Owaba; Obanobhan Emeyal, His Royal Majesty Wapabiama Amakiri and Olalebhu Abureni, His Royal Majesty, Collins Daniel, as well as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
Royal Father Collins Daniel, who spoke on behalf of the Ogbia delegation, said the people of the kingdom had benefited immensely from President Tinubu, adding that the least they could do was to support the president’s bid to return in 2027.
“In light of the above, it is our firm belief that Mr President has done us well and as such we cannot help but to reciprocate your kind gesture by inviting Mr President to contest the next Presidential election,” said the royal father, affirming, “you have the full support of the Ogbia Kingdom. Mr President, we are behind you.”
Also speaking, the MD of the NDDC said the delegation had come to express appreciation for President Tinubu’s leadership style and the confidence he had reposed in sons and daughters of Ogbia through key national appointments, which it said had rekindled hope and reinforced faith in his administration.
“We have come first and foremost to express our heartfelt appreciation for your inclusive leadership and the confidence you have reposed in our sons and daughters through their recent appointments and re-appointments into key national positions,” he said.
The Ogbia leaders singled out the performance of the NDDC under Dr Ogbuku, noting that since his appointment on August 29, 2023, communities across Ogbia Kingdom and the wider Niger Delta had witnessed “unprecedented infrastructural and human capital development.”
“Suffice it to say that virtually every community in Ogbia Kingdom and in the Niger Delta now enjoy solar lights at night, which has significantly illuminated the Niger Delta and boosted economic activities,” the delegation stated, adding that the interventions had “to a large extent curbed insecurity in the Kingdom and the entire region.”
They listed roads, ecological projects, upgraded health facilities and youth empowerment programmes such as Project HOPE in technology, agriculture, arts and green energy as part of the NDDC’s achievements, describing President Tinubu’s choice of Ogbuku as “not misplaced.”
“Your appointment of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku sends a clear message of your confidence in indigenous leadership and reinforces the trust of the Niger Delta people in your Renewed Hope Agenda,” noted the leaders, and concluded by pledging their “unalloyed loyalty and support.”
An associate of former President Jonathan said it wasn’t surprising that the former president may have resolved to shelve his ambition to run against Tinubu in 2027.
“It is clear that our brother Goodluck Jonathan has clearly read the handwriting on the wall. In 2015, nearly all the six South-south states were in his PDP, yet, as an incumbent, he lost to the opposition APC. What do you expect now that all the six governors in his zone are backing Tinubu. and the odds are stacked against him 100 percent?” he queried.
