Lead Visioner of the Lagos4Lagos Movement and 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has advised former, President, Goodluck Jonathan not to heed calls to re-contest the presidency in 2027.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, Jandor warned that Jonathan would be taking a “political risk” by challenging President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as “a master in the game of politics.”

Adediran dismissed claims that Jonathan was the only figure capable of matching Tinubu, insisting that the current president’s political strength and resilience set him apart.

“I disagree with people calling on Jonathan to re-contest, people saying Jonathan is the only person who can challenge Tinubu, citing his popularity and experience.

“It was this same man (Tinubu) who defeated him (Jonathan) from the outside. So, they are not the same.

“If you accidentally found yourself at the Aso Villa as President, it is different from somebody who gave his all to get there. Such a man cannot be put side by side with somebody who just slept and woke up and found himself in the seat of the President,” he said.

Jandor further advised Jonathan to heed the counsel of his wife, Patience Jonathan, who had reportedly urged him not to run again.

He cautioned that Jonathan risked a “humiliating defeat” against Tinubu in 2027.

“United with his personality, popularity, and experience, President Tinubu cannot be displaced by Jonathan or anyone else in 2027,” Jandor declared.

The PDP chieftain also commended Tinubu for his economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said had boosted allocations to states and local governments.

“We are not saying all is well, but at least the President has shown the courage to take our common patrimony from the pocket of the few in the name of fuel subsidy and return it to the country, state and the local government. Now the allocation is tripled,” he said.

According to him, the reforms had also stabilised the foreign exchange market, ending what he called “dubious practices” that enriched a few individuals.

“We can’t have a billionaire overnight through corrupt practices in foreign exchange. This man put a stop to that,” he added.

Adediran, however, challenged state and local governments to use the increased allocations to cushion the impact of reforms on ordinary Nigerians.

“If the state and local governments are doing what they are supposed to do, now that they have enough money, it will cushion the effects of some of the reforms. At the macro level, the economy has taken a corner, undoubtedly, but the micro, of course, takes time before it trickles down,” he said.

He also called on the Nigerian Armed Forces to support the President in tackling the country’s security challenges.

Meanwhile, Adediran reaffirmed his ambition to become governor of Lagos State, stressing that his bid was not just about ambition but about promoting inclusive governance.

“It is about stewardship, about building a Lagos where opportunity, innovation, and prosperity are accessible to all,” he said.

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