I Didn’t Ask For Festus Keyamo’s Counsel, I’m Eligible To Contest – GEJ

Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has blasted Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), for opposing his speculated 2027 presidential ambition.

He recently warned Keyamo and legal scholar, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, to stay away from his political decisions.

Recall that Keyamo and Chidi had urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to hand its ticket to Jonathan, arguing that his return bid would face legal obstacles since he had already been sworn in twice as president.

Reacting via a press statement by his cousin, Azibaola Robert, GEJ rubbished their concerns, stating that his eligibility is not in doubt in any way.

According to him, he never asked either Keyamo or Odinkalu for any advice, so he does not understand why they feel they have a say in a matter that concerns him.

He insisted that he has more qualified SANs at his disposal who constantly offer quality advice when he needs their service.

“Dear Festus Keyamo (SAN), Chidi Odinkalu (Prof.), I greet both of you. For the records, three of us are lawyers. We were all pro-democracy activists in the 90s, and I was a better activist than both of you combined.

Rule No. 1: Do not offer legal advice where none is solicited. GEJ (PDP) has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal who give him sound, unblemished professional legal advice.

Please note: GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. If he decides not to yield to the overwhelming calls to run, it will not be because he is unqualified,” it read.

Robert further noted that people should stop wasting time trying to tell GEJ what to do ahead of 2027 because he has a mind of his own.

He concluded by saying that the latest press statement from the GEJ family is not confirmation that the former president would run for presidency again.

“Your unsolicited legal view is not of any concern to him and will never be. Don’t waste your precious time dwelling on this.

Or should I schedule a meeting so you can be properly educated on the subsisting court judgments on the matter — one of which your party, APC, was a party to?

This is not a confirmation that GEJ is running, though,” it added.