…Says Tinubu repairing PDP’s broken economy
…Accuses ex-leader of squandering oil wealth, leaving states bankrupt
By Obasola Tunde
The Presidency has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against harbouring ambitions of returning to Aso Rock in 2027, insisting that Nigerians will not overlook what it described as the “economic ruin and mismanagement” of his six-year tenure.
In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said Jonathan retains the constitutional right to contest, but would still confront both legal scrutiny over eligibility and the verdict of voters on his record of “squandered oil wealth, depleted reserves, and reckless governance.”
“Jonathan and his PDP allies broke the economy; President Tinubu is repairing it. Nigerians voted him out once, and they will not allow him to return to damage the nation again,” Onanuga declared.
He recalled that Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and excess crude savings in 2010, but left behind less than $32 billion by 2015, despite unprecedented oil revenues. The Presidency alleged that the former leader engaged in “frivolous spending, fuel subsidy fraud, and diversions of security funds” that pushed the economy into crisis and left many states unable to meet salary obligations.
By contrast, Onanuga maintained that President Tinubu has “turned the corner,” pointing to reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of exchange rates, and policies aimed at reviving investor confidence. He stressed that GDP grew by 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025, inflation dropped to its lowest point in three years, and reserves climbed to $42 billion.
“Jonathan is free to test his popularity in 2027, but Nigerians will not forget how he failed them,” the statement concluded.
