Pressures have continued to mount on former President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his planned bid to contest for the presidency of the country in the 2027 general elections.
Those opposed to Jonathan’s aspiration, especially his kinsmen in the Niger Delta, are urging the ex-Nigerian ruler to instead back the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Ahmed Tinubu, for his second term bid in 2027.
It was gathered that a frontline Niger Delta ex-militant commander, High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, is the arrowhead of the group rooting for the continuity of Tinubu’s presidency beyond 2027.
The ex-militant commander is leading a vanguard of eminent citizens of the Niger Delta persuading Jonathan not to run for the presidency of the country in 2027.
This development came on the heels of the emerging details of the recent visit of Tompolo to Jonathan at his Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Tompolo visited Jonathan on Friday, October 16th in what was significantly considered as his second public appearance in over a decade.
The ex-militant leader was accompanied on the trip by the Managing Director of his oil pipelines surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief Kestin Pondi and the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state, Hon. Joshua Maciver, among other prominent citizens of the oil-rich belt.
Contrary to widespread reports on the historical visit, latest findings revealed that the meeting was aimed at persuading the ex-president not to seek the mandate of Nigerians in the 2027 elections.
It was gathered that Tompolo told Jonathan that the psyche of his kinsmen in the Niger Delta was unfavourable to his rumoured ambition of returning to power.
Tompolo, who is the convener and founder of the “PBAT- Door-2-Door, a frontline grassroots political movement in the vanguard of the re-election of Tinubu, reportedly told his host, that his kinsmen are largely in favour of Tinubu’s second term bid.
Tompolo pointedly told Jonathan that he might not secure the much desired “home support” if he insisted on running for the presidency on any of the political platforms in the forthcoming general elections.
Impeccable sources closed to the meeting revealed that Tompolo impressed upon Jonathan to support the perpetuation of Tinubu in office till 2031.
Tompolo urged Jonathan to borrow a leaf from his wife and ex- first lady, Patience and Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, who had joined the movement for the re-election of the incumbent Nigerian leader in 2027.
Although this, nexus of discussion was not made public by the duo of Jonathan and Tompolo, those privy to the main agenda of the meeting further disclosed that Tompolo encouraged Ex-President Jonathan to join a consensus front in the Niger Delta for the continuity of southern presidency with Tinubu as beneficiary till 2031.
One of the sources further disclosed that Tompolo said the recent resignation of Diri from the main opposition platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his anticipated defection into APC, had made it imperative for Jonathan to team up with his team to tenaciously work to ensure the re-election of Tinubu in 2027.
One of the attendees said, “Tompolo came to see His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, in his village, Otuoke, on Friday, October 16th in what was a happy re-union since they have not met in over one decade. Contrary to the reports in the conventional and social media that they discussed issues bordering on peace and security in the Niger Delta, far from that, the meeting was political.”
“Tompolo came and unequivocally appealed to him to shelve his rumoured presidential bid in 2027. Although Tompolo acknowledged that the ambition is coming into the public space as mere rumours but he told Mr. President that he should shelve the idea if it’s true.”
“Tompolo advised our leader not to be persuaded and not giving in to those political calculations that, he could unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections. He stated categorically that the psyche of the citizens of the Niger Delta and indeed of the majority of Nigerians favoured the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”
“He made President Jonathan to understand that he won’t get the much required home support for his aspiration . He specifically pointed out the recent public statement made by his wife, Patience, endorsing President Tinubu for re-election and the recent resignation of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, from PDP and his planned defection into APC, as having diminished him.”
“Tompolo told his host that nobody can defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a free and fair electoral contest in view of his superlative performance in less than 3 years in office. He said most reasonable and right thinking Nigerians want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue in office beyond 2027 to enable him to continue in the saddle till 2031.”
“Consequently, he enjoined President Jonathan to join the vanguard for the re-election of Tinubu in 2027, that a contrary action will surely not going to be in his interest and in the over all interest of his people of the Niger Delta.”
“He further counselled that President Goodluck Jonathan, does not have to defect into APC, that he can remain a states man to work and deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for a second term of office, added the source, who craved anonymity.
Another reliable source at the meeting, said Jonathan, who listened to his guest with rapt attention, promised to consider his advice.
According to him, Jonathan acknowledged wisdom in his submissions.
“President Goodluck Jonathan appreciated Tompolo for his visit and acknowledged his wise counsels on the political permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
“President Jonathan promised to review his counsels and make public his decisions in no distant future,” the source, who pleaded not to have his names in print, hinted further.
Tompolo didn’t grant press interview after the meeting.
Jonathan, who spoke to newsmen after the closed door meeting, merely said Tompolo visited him to review the prevailing peace in the region.
The ex-president didn’t make any reference to the political component of the parley with his visitors.
Jonathan had told reporters that, “Since I left office, we have not seen each others. Tompolo is one young man, who has played key roles in the unity of our people.”
“There are issues people have been complaining about, so I decided to ask him so that we can have conversations to ensure the Niger Delta remains peaceful. He (Tompolo) has contributed significantly to the peace and the protection of oil installations,” he added.