The Presidency last night accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of lacking a clear economic agenda during his administration of over five years, alleging that he ran the country’s economy aground.
According to the Presidency, Nigeria’s current economic woes began under Jonathan’s government.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency also warned Jonathan — described as a gentleman — to be wary of those urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The warning follows a recent comment credited to Professor Jerry Gana, who said the former President would contest the 2027 election and send President Bola Tinubu “back to Lagos.”
While stating that Jonathan was free to join the race, the Presidency maintained that Nigerians would not forget what it described as his “abysmal performance in office.”
The statement read:“As we begin the march towards the 2027 elections prematurely foisted on the nation by the desperation of the opposition ganging up against President Bola Tinubu despite his glaring economic strides, we are once again regaled with a cacophony of voices, most of them full of sound and fury, signifying nothing — to paraphrase inimitable William Shakespeare in one of his classic works, Macbeth.
One recent statement that stands out in its absurdity is Professor Jerry Gana’s. The former Minister of Information and National Orientation, moving to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race, affirmed that the former President would contest on the platform of the discredited Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which left behind a legacy of economic ruin after 16 years of bad governance.”
The Presidency further dismissed Gana’s claims that Jonathan could defeat Tinubu, describing them as delusional.
It added:“We should caution former President Jonathan to be wary of the PDP’s sugar-coated cheerleaders. Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.
Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his day in court to determine whether, having been sworn in twice as president, he is constitutionally eligible to contest and, if successful, be sworn in for a third term.”
Onanuga stressed that Jonathan’s record would also be put to test before Nigerians:
“We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground, and put the country in dire straits. The downturn that President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome actually began under Jonathan.
In 2010, Jonathan inherited $66 billion — $46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account. By 2015, when he was voted out, reserves had fallen below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account was depleted to $2 billion, despite record oil revenues.
By December 2014, the Federal Government could no longer pay salaries, while at least 28 states owed workers huge arrears.”
The Presidency contrasted this with what it called Tinubu’s “bold reforms” in office: “In just over two years, President Tinubu has removed the ruinous fuel subsidy, unified the exchange rate, and stabilised the economy. GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025, inflation dropped to 20.12% in August 2025 — the lowest in three years — and foreign reserves now stand at $42.03 billion. Investor confidence has returned, the Naira has stabilised, and critical infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are underway.
In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. Nigerians are beginning to reap the gains of Tinubu’s reforms. The PDP broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it. Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race, but Nigerians will not allow them to return and run it down again.”
The Member, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has enjoined his Constituents and Nigerians, to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, hope, patience, humility and love for humanity as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the real essence of Easter Celebration.
In a statement personally signed by the Legislator, he called on his Constituents and the Christian Community in Nigeria to demonstrate Christ-like virtues of love for humanity, hope for a better future, peaceful and harmonious disposition in their dealings with one another for a United Ukwa Federal Constituency and indeed Nigeria, where brotherly love reigns amongst Citizens.
He maintained that despite the prevailing temporary economic difficulties; there is light at the end of the tunnel and strong hope for a better, improved and secured economy within a short period of time.
Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration!
The Rivers State Police Command has declared that the tragic death of a 26-year-old lady, Peace Moses, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was not reported in any of its divisions or units across the state.
Peace was knocked down last Monday evening by a convoy of about 15 fast-moving vehicles around Omega Junction along Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt.
She was returning from an evening service at her church, Love Channel Christian Centre, also located along Ada-George Road, when the tragic incident occurred.
Last Thursday, a candlelight procession was organised in her honour by her friends and neighbours.
Speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), wondered why neighbours could not report the incident to the Police.
Iringe-Koko stated that even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Rumuepirikom Police Division was unaware of the tragic incident.
“Probably they didn’t report any such incident to the Police Station because the DPO in charge of that area is asking me where and when the incident occurred.
See, if they don’t report cases to the Police, how would the Police know? We are not magicians. I just spoke with the DPO, and she said she is not aware of anything like that.
“Somebody needs to report or anyhow, information needs to get through so that we too will get it,” she said.
But reacting to the claim by the Police, a human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, said that, with or without a report on the tragic incident, the Police are duty-bound to investigate the matter.
Nsirimovu said: “The duty of the Nigerian police is to secure lives and properties, and where a life has been lost in such grievous circumstances, the police have a duty to investigate the matter on the basis of their mandate and the public need to prevent such a menace to human life.
“The Police have a duty to investigate the matter, with or without a petition.”
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Sunday said many Nigerians might seek a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond two terms.
The monarch, in a congratulatory message by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli, to celebrate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, described the President as a decisive leader who has laid a renewed foundation of hope for the country.
“Many Nigerians may beg for a constitutional review for Tinubu to spend more than two terms in office. He is a leader who knows what he is doing,” he said.
Oluwo said the President had distinguished himself through what he described as a firm campaign against illegalities that had stalled the country’s economic growth.
He added that the President’s administrative prowess had driven notable gains, citing improvements in the naira, a rise in foreign reserves from about $1bn to between $49.5bn and $50.45bn as of late February/March 2026, and strengthened economic indices.
The monarch attributed the gains to structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, increased oil output and higher foreign investment inflows.
Oluwo also commended Tinubu for granting local government autonomy, increasing allocations to states, expanding road infrastructure and improving palliative distribution at the grassroots.
According to him, past leaders attempted similar economic reforms but were overwhelmed by public and political pressure.
He said only a capable leader could implement tough but necessary decisions to reposition the economy.
Oluwo added that the President’s policies had begun to impact the standard of living, noting that the next phase would be stability.
He said, “You are not yet a capable leader until you make decisions and stand by them. Many past presidents attempted to remove obstacles to economic prosperity but were overrun by public outcries. Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership through reforms.
“Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased to over $49.5bn from about $1bn. Local government autonomy is taking effect, states earn more, and road projects, including Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Sokoto-Badagry, are ongoing.”