2027 election: I am not returning to Aso Rock, will support for Tinubu, says Patience Jonathan

Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan, has dismissed any expectation of returning to Aso Rock Villa in 2027. Rather, she has declared support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She revealed this while honouring Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of President Bola Tinubu, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, during the Women Icon Leader of the Year award event hosted by Accolade Dynamics Limited in Abuja on Saturday.

In her speech during the event, Patience Jonathan praised Tinubu-Ojo, said, “I was supposed to call her first, but I saved her for last: the daughter of our wonderful President, the President of Nigeria, the one and only we believe in, President Bola Tinubu. Iyaloja, thank you for standing with women because these are your women. Carry them along; they are with you.”

She further stated, “All the way, we are with you. No shaking. We will follow. Direct us, and we will follow. Because there is only one president at a time. We don’t have two presidents. I am outspoken, if I don’t like something, I will say it. But if I like something, I die for it.”

“I believe in one president. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back, so that the country can move forward.”

Patience Jonathan also mentioned that Remi Tinubu and president Bola Tinubu supported her and her husband during 2011 presidential election.

She said, “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.

“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.”