Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has rejected calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to return to power in 2027, stressing that Nigeria’s challenges go far beyond who occupies the presidency.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Farotimi argued that simply changing leaders without fixing the country’s structural problems will not bring meaningful progress.
“A thousand Goodluck Ebele Jonathans cannot solve the problems of Nigeria. If we do not address our structural problems and tell ourselves the truth, nothing is going to change. They can recycle all these people as many times as they can,” he said.
He recalled that Jonathan, once criticised and voted out in 2015, is now being positioned by some political actors as a “saviour.” However, Farotimi maintained that such moves reflect the interests of the political elite, not the people.
“They want to bring Goodluck Jonathan because it is the safe option for them. It is not about what is in it for the people,” he noted.
Farotimi stressed that true transformation should focus on strengthening institutions and systems, rather than depending on recycled politicians. He added:
“If we’re talking about change in 2027, what does it mean in education? What does it mean for security, agriculture, telecoms, or the structure of the country?”
The activist urged Nigerians to demand systemic reforms instead of banking on former leaders for solutions.
