“Stay off my political journey”- Jonathan hits Keyamo, others

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has fired a sharp warning at Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and legal scholar, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, telling them to keep off his political decisions amid speculation about a 2027 presidential run.

Keyamo and Odinkalu had urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to hand its ticket to Jonathan, citing legal hurdles given his two previous terms as president.

But Jonathan dismissed their concerns in a statement issued on Monday by his brother, Azibaola Robert, stressing that his constitutional eligibility is unquestionable and that he does not require unsolicited advice.

Robert wrote on his verified Facebook page: “Dear Festus Keyamo (SAN), Chidi Odinkalu (Prof.), I greet both of you. For the records, three of us are lawyers. We were all pro-democracy activists in the 90s, and I was a better activist than both of you combined.

“Rule No. 1: Do not offer legal advice where none is solicited. GEJ has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal who give him sound, unblemished professional legal advice. Please note: GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to.”

He added with a touch of humour: “This is not a confirmation that GEJ is running, though.”

Although Jonathan has yet to formally declare for 2027, the exchange signals an early showdown over zoning, eligibility, and succession within the PDP, as opponents argue that his return could complicate the South’s chances of retaining the presidency.