Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has ruled out any possibility of her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Dame Jonathan rather expressed her support for zoning ahead of the 2027 general election and pledged to work with First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to campaign for President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election if called upon.
Patience Jonathan said this after receiving the Women Icon Leader of the Year award from Accolade Dynamics Limited in Abuja on Saturday.
She recalled how the incumbent First Lady and President Tinubu supported her and her husband when they contested the 2011 presidential election.
She insisted that rather than return to Aso Rock, she would support the First Lady and her husband.
“I didn’t just know her (Senator Oluremi Tinubu) just because she’s the First Lady, no. We worked together. We worked as a group.
“We are groups. We worked when I was a deputy governor’s wife. We worked when I was a governor’s wife. I know her. I talked with Oluremi.
“Even when my husband was the vice president, Oluremi stood with her husband and supported us during our first election.
“They supported us. So, for me, I have a conscience. I cannot abandon my friend, whether you like it or not,” Mrs Jonathan said.
Speaking further, she said: “Because, you see, this is turn by turn. Today is my turn—I will go. Tomorrow, it will be another person’s turn—then we go. And when we go, will we still meet? Where will we meet? I don’t know.
“I stand by my friend. My friend is great. I told her I would campaign with her. I’m not denying her. I’m not running. I’m not going back to the villa. If you call me, I will not go.
“I say it every day. Don’t you like how young I look? People say, “Mama, you are young, you are young!” It is because I have rest of mind, yes.
“I don’t want to go there—let my friend be there. Let me also “wahala” her the way she used to “wahala” me when I was there! Let me also tease her. And until she comes out, she will be young. But for now, she won’t be young”.