A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Katch Ononuju has debunked the rumoured interest of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in contesting the 2023 presidency The Trumpet gathered.
The former president has been heavily linked with the move by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to drag him into the race with an unconfirmed claim that he might be President Muhammadu Buhari’s preferred successor.
Buhari defeated Jonathan in the 2019 presidential polls and the former leader congratulated Buhari even when the final results of the election had not been announced.
Lately, there have been several meetings between the two leaders at the Aso Rock Villa suggesting there might be a secret pact between the duo.
But Dr Ononuju, a Bayelsa born politician and a close associate of Jonathan said the former president is not interested in contesting either APC or any other platform.
In a statement made available to The Trumpet Friday in Abuja, Ononuju said
‘President Goodluck Jonathan is not interested in being used to cheat the south into a useless single term for the south and has never campaigned for such an arrangement.
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‘Please disregard the foolishness being displayed by ignorant people on this issue. President Goodluck Jonathan is not interested in the stories Mallami and his urchins are bandying about as he is just playing along for the peace and safety of his family and interests.
“He has given his conditions to those who came to discuss the idea with him and when those conditions are met, we will all hear from president Buhari through a public endorsement plus a legal manoeuvres to reverse an executive bill signed into law by President Buhari barring a Nigerian from being sworn into office thrice as president.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has not told anyone that he is running for election.”
