Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been ordered to abandon his presidential ambitions by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex socio-political youth body in the South East.
In a statement issued by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, in response to reports that the former president had abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to pursue his presidential ambitions, the group urged him to back the call for Southeast presidency.
The coalition bemoaned Jonathan’s desire to return to Ask Rock at a time when the South Easterners who had previously supported him are fighting for the presidency.
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“We are really surprised that despite the unwavering support of the people of the South-East for Dr Jonathan, he is aspiring to be Nigerian President at a time when the nation’s mood is for an Igbo man to become president in 2023,” the statement says in part.
“Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who has benefited greatly from the unwavering support of the people of the South East, is the first person we expect to support and champion the course of Igbo presidency.”
The group claims that while supporting Jonathan, numerous Igbos were killed and others lost their property, and that it is now up to Jonathan to repay their support.
“Now is the time for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to repay the goodwill of the people of the South East by publicly supporting the region’s efforts to produce a Nigerian President in 2023,” the statement continued.