By Abiola Olawale
Mr Azibaola Robert, an entrepreneur, lawyer and pro-democracy activist has spoken out again, maintaining that his cousin and former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally and legally qualified to contest for the presidency.
Azibaola Robert, a frontline lawyer and former pro-democracy activist, in a press statement posted on his official Facebook account addressed prominent figures, including Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo (SAN) and legal scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who have questioned Jonathan’s eligibility.
Robert emphasized that existing court rulings have settled the matter, stating that Jonathan’s eligibility was not in doubt and that he did not need unsolicited advice.
This comes after both Keyamo and Odinkalu had urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be careful and possibly avoid handing over its presidential ticket to Jonathan, arguing that his return bid would face legal obstacles since he had already been sworn into office twice as president.
The statement reads in part: “Dear Festus Keyamo (SAN), Chidi Odinkalu (Prof.), I greet both of you. For the record, 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.
“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?”
Robert added, in a lighter tone: “This is not a confirmation that GEJ is running, though.”
The New Diplomat reports that there have been reports that Jonathan might run for the 2027 presidential election.
Although Jonathan has yet to make a formal declaration on the 2027 race, his rumoured ambition has already drawn reactions from political opponents who argue that a return bid could jeopardise the South’s chances of retaining the presidency.
