THE president of the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation and former president of Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO), Jibril Mustapha, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election to save Nigerians from hunger and other economic hardship.
Mustapha reportedly made the call in a statement on Sunday, April 27, in Lagos state.
He said Jonathan should heed the call to run for the office of the president again.
He stressed that as the nation prepares for the 2027 elections, his organisation believes that it is time for all stakeholders to come together and support a candidate who can genuinely represent the interests of all Nigerians.
“We urge former President Goodluck Jonathan to consider this call and to step forward as a candidate who can unite our country and lead us towards a brighter future.
“This appeal comes in light of the numerous challenges currently facing Nigeria, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and rampant banditry,” Mustapha maintained.
He believes there is an urgent need for a leader who embodies integrity, inclusivity, and a commitment to national unity, as Jonathan is to be Nigeria’s next president.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads. We are grappling with significant issues that threaten our stability and progress.
“We need a leader who can bring all Nigerians together, regardless of their background,” Mustapha said.
He asserted that Jonathan, during his tenure, demonstrated a commitment to democratic values and governance that prioritised the welfare of all citizens.
He added that his group believes that Jonathan has the vision and experience necessary to lead Nigeria.
“His leadership style is one that fosters inclusivity and economic advancement, which is exactly what our nation needs at this critical juncture.
“Under Jonathan’s leadership, we can work towards restoring Nigeria’s lost glory on the international stage and within our borders,” Mustapha argued.
BYO is a youth-based supporter of former President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2015, Jonathan lost his second-term bid to Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
This is not the first time a call for former President Jonathan to return to the presidency has been made.
In the build-up to the 2023 generation election, Jonathan had rejected a presidential nomination form bought without his consent to run for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary.
The form was said to have cost N100 million to purchase the APC’s nomination papers bought by a supporters’ group on his behalf.
As the calls for Jonathan to re-contest in the presidential election mount, The ICIR can recall that a Federal High Court in Bayelsa had ruled on his eligibility to run again.