AS political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to stay away from partisan political contests, warning that renewed calls for his return are misplaced.
Political stakeholders have recently stepped up appeals urging Jonathan to re-enter active politics, but Lamido dismissed the growing calls as driven by desperation and lacking in genuine political direction.
News Point Nigeria reports that the former governor made his position known in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, where he strongly cautioned against efforts to draw the former president back into the political arena.
Lamido warned that such attempts could diminish Jonathan’s standing as a respected elder statesman in Nigeria and on the global stage.
According to him, Jonathan has already attained a distinguished position as a former president whose stature should not be undermined by involvement in current political struggles.
“It is unfair and ill-opportune to drag his person into the current murky political arena populated by unserious, self-seeking and self-serving characters,” Lamido stated.
He argued that Jonathan now belongs to the class of globally respected former leaders who should be shielded from partisan contests and political turbulence.
The PDP chieftain further stressed that individuals in such positions deserve to have their dignity preserved rather than exposed to electoral rivalries.
Lamido also took aim at the broader political environment in the country, saying many political parties lack ideological grounding and are largely focused on power acquisition ahead of 2027.
He maintained that the renewed agitation for Jonathan’s return is not anchored on any coherent or structured political agenda.
“The call for President Jonathan to hop into the political arena, no matter how well-intentioned, stems from the helplessness and hopelessness Nigeria has found itself in,” he wrote.
Describing the pressure as a “desperation call,” Lamido said it reflects growing public frustration over Nigeria’s political and economic challenges.
He urged Jonathan to ignore what he described as “ego-caressing” appeals from political actors and supporters seeking to exploit his name for political advantage.
“While the call is appreciated, it is a desperation call lacking in any depth beyond being a ventilator of frustration,” the former governor added.