Different groups of people carrying placards, tree branches, and Nigerian flags stormed the office premises of former president, Goodluck Jonathan in Maitama, Abuja early Friday morning to prevail on him to run for president in 2023.
The alliance, known as the 'Goodluck Consensus' also blared music from sound speakers as they waited for the former president.
Young men and children danced to various Nigerian tunes, while women, some with babies waved placards with inscriptions such as ‘Goodluck you must run’, ‘Goodluck you are a good man’, and ‘Goodluck you are our Good luck’.
Pray You Get Somebody That Can Carry Young People Along -Jonathan
The former president later emerged from his office and commended the group, describing their rally as evidence of the level of interest youths should show in politics.
“We have been urging youths to get interested in politics; luckily the ‘Not Too Young Bill’ has made it very clear that every young person can contest any position in government.
“I will continue to encourage you to get involved in the political process. And as long as many youths get involved, we’ll get the government we want,” he said.
Mr. Jonathan did not say whether he was going to heed their call and declare for the presidency, but he told them to “watch out.”
“Yes, you are calling me to declare for the next election. I cannot tell you that I am declaring.
“The political process is ongoing. Just watch out! But the key role you must play is to pray that you get somebody that can carry the young people along.
“Somebody that can also work very hard so that some of the problems raised can be dealt with by the government.
“I believe that collectively we will work together. I thank all of you,” he told the groups.
Jonathan is Tested and Trusted -Rally Coordinator
Muhammed Habib, the co-ordinator of one of the groups, 'Almajiri Reform Council' praised Goodluck Johnathan as a tested and trusted administrator who can turn around Nigeria’s economic and security situations.
“We have looked at the ravaging insecurity, the inflationary rate that quadrupled, the unemployment rate that also quadrupled, high cost of living and we discovered the good driver of the economy, the good manager of this country, cannot be any other person, other than Goodluck Jonathan.
"We have tested and trusted him in the past and we feel he can do it even better, considering the fact that he must have had time to rethink, re-step, re-strategise where he made mistakes, to correct the ills this time.
“We are calling him to come and rescue the insecurity, come and rescue us from the economic hardship, come and lead us to the promised land,” he told Nigeria Info.
Some of the young people who arrived in 15 buses said they came from Taraba, Borno, and Kaduna States to convince Mr. Jonathan to contest.
A few who spoke to Nigeria Info said they missed the less turbulent regime of the former president.
“Comparing his past administration, everyone can see the changes. Within the period this administration has been in power, a lot of things have gone bad.
“Ease of doing business, education sector, agriculture sector; we really need Goodluck to bring his knowledge and expertise to make the country a better place.
“We want Goodluck to come back because we believe that he can change the way things are,” one of them said.
