The President of the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation and former President of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO), Dr Jubril Mustapha, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, Mustapha urged Jonathan to heed growing calls for his return to the presidency.
“As the nation approaches the 2027 elections, the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation believes it is time for all stakeholders to rally behind a candidate capable of genuinely representing the interests of all Nigerians.
“We appeal to former President Goodluck Jonathan to consider this call and present himself as a unifying candidate who can steer the country towards a brighter future.
“This appeal comes in light of the numerous challenges Nigeria currently faces, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and widespread banditry,” Mustapha stated.
He stressed the urgent need for a leader who embodies integrity, inclusivity, and a strong commitment to national unity.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads, grappling with serious issues that threaten our stability and development. We need a leader who can unite Nigerians, regardless of background,” he said.
Mustapha noted that during his tenure, Jonathan demonstrated a strong commitment to democratic principles and governance focused on citizens’ welfare.
He maintained that the group believes Jonathan possesses the vision and experience necessary to lead Nigeria at this critical time.
“Jonathan’s leadership style promotes inclusivity and economic growth, which is precisely what the nation requires at this juncture.
“Under his leadership, we can work towards restoring Nigeria’s lost glory, both internationally and domestically,” he said.
The BYO is a youth-based group that previously supported former President Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan lost his bid for a second term to Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
It will be recalled that amidst debates over Jonathan’s eligibility to contest again, the Federal High Court in Bayelsa, in 2022, ruled that he remains eligible.
Presiding Judge, Justice Isa Dashen ruled that Jonathan’s right could not be curtailed by any retroactive law.
The judge held that the 2007 general election produced the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president, not Jonathan, stressing that Section 137 of the Constitution could not be applied retroactively to bar him from contesting.
Dashen further stated that no presidential election was conducted in 2010, and Jonathan could not be deemed to have been sworn in as president based on that year.
