●Activist warns PDP crisis and fragile politics could diminish ex-president’s statesman stature
Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve any plans for a 2027 presidential run, warning that another contest could harm the legacy he has built since leaving office in 2015.
In an open letter released Wednesday, Adeyanju said he wrote “from a place of respect” for Jonathan’s leadership style and commitment to democratic values.
But he argued that Nigeria’s fragile political climate and the instability within the PDP make a comeback risky.
—“Risks unnecessary controversy”—
Adeyanju said the growing conversations around Jonathan’s possible return are “worrying.”
He noted that the ex-president still commands respect at home and abroad.
“As someone with your global standing and the respect you continue to command both at home and abroad, I worry that subjecting yourself to the roughness of another electoral contest at this moment may not serve your legacy well,” he wrote.
The activist added that even beyond questions of electoral outcome, “the process itself risks unnecessary controversy that could unintentionally diminish the statesmanlike stature you have earned.”
—Call for elder statesman role—
Adeyanju appealed to Jonathan to step away from partisan politics and continue serving as a continental elder statesman “whose influence is felt through guidance and wisdom, rather than electoral contest.”
He described Jonathan as a well-wisher who admires the former president’s record, particularly his 2015 concession speech that helped deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
—2027 speculation mounts—
Rumours of a Jonathan 2027 bid have intensified in recent months, with supporters linking him to the PDP platform despite internal divisions rocking the opposition party.
Jonathan, 67, served as president from 2010 to 2015 and has since been active in peace mediation and democracy advocacy across Africa.
Adeyanju concluded: “For these reasons, I sincerely hope you will consider stepping away from any such ambition.l
