By Tony Okafor
Some leaders rise through years of political struggle. Others are lifted by circumstance and destiny. Former President Goodluck Jonathan belongs to the latter category.
From deputy governor to governor, then from vice president to president, Jonathan’s political journey was shaped by fate, tragedy and circumstance.
The impeachment of his principal elevated him to governor, while the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua propelled him to the presidency. Few politicians anywhere in the world have enjoyed such an extraordinary chain of fortune. Even his name, Goodluck, became a national metaphor.
But history often remembers leaders
who know when to stop more kindly than those who overstay their moment.
Today, Jonathan is respected across Africa and beyond, not merely for the power he once wielded, but for the restraint he demonstrated after losing the 2015 presidential election.
At a time when many African incumbents clung desperately to office, Jonathan conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari and handed over power peacefully.
His famous telephone call to Buhari before the final declaration of results became one of the defining moments in African democratic history. That singular act earned him a moral authority and international respect that few former presidents enjoy.
That legacy must not be endangered.
Calls urging Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election should therefore be treated with caution.
As he rightly observed, “the presidency is not a computer game.” And because it is not a game, he must resist becoming a pawn in wider political calculations.
There are several reasons Jonathan should stay away from the race. First is the constitutional controversy already surrounding the matter. A suit challenging his eligibility on the basis of constitutional term limits is already before the court. Even if the case ultimately fails, the uncertainty alone is enough to create unnecessary tension and political distraction.
Second, Jonathan has little left to prove politically. Unlike many desperate politicians seeking relevance, he currently occupies a dignified position both at home and abroad. Re-entering Nigeria’s turbulent political arena risks diminishing the statesmanlike image he has carefully built over the years.
Third is the danger of being used to advance hidden political interests. There are growing suspicions that certain forces are pushing Jonathan’s name forward, not necessarily because they genuinely want him to become president again, but because they see him as a convenient tool to fracture the opposition and weaken the chances of Peter Obi. Jonathan must not allow himself to become associated with such schemes.
The rumoured plan for him to seek the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, if true, appears particularly ill-timed in the present circumstances.
Nigeria is grappling with economic hardship, widespread distrust and deep regional tensions. What the nation urgently requires is stability, credible institutions and genuine healing — not another round of elite political recycling disguised as a rescue mission.
Jonathan’s greatest political victory may ultimately lie in his ability to walk away when others cannot. He should preserve his status as a statesman, continue supporting democratic growth and help mentor a younger generation of leaders.
That path offers him honour and enduring relevance. Another presidential contest may not.
Fortune elevated Goodluck Jonathan beyond the dreams of most Nigerian politicians. Wisdom should now remind him that not every open political door deserves to be entered. Sometimes, the noblest act is knowing when history has already been kind enough.
