Presidential Election Is Not a Computer Game” Jonathan Replies Youths Urging Him to Challenge Tinubu

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]You are for showing interest in your country.

[00:00:03]If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here.

[00:00:08]So, I can say that you are showing signs of being patriotic Nigerians.

[00:00:14]And I will encourage you to continue to be patriotic to the country.

[00:00:18]It's only patriotic citizens that build their nation.

[00:00:22]Unpatriotic citizens will destroy their nation, take the money to anywhere to enjoy their life.

[00:00:28]So, you must be patriotic.

[00:00:31]And things are very, very clear.

[00:00:33]The key thing we need in this country is peace.

[00:00:38]So, as young people, cuz most of you here, more than 80% of you are very young people.

[00:00:44]I don't even know how old some of you were when I was the president.

[00:00:48]But, the key thing is peace in this country, and you will continue to advocate for that.

[00:00:53]And you will continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country.

[00:00:58]Because if we don't have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics. And as youth, you will continue to advocate for that.

[00:01:10]It's very dear to us, peaceful election. And indeed, you as young people must continue to be fully involved in the electoral processes.

[00:01:20]Especially your right to vote.

[00:01:24]I've observed the elections in about 14 or more African countries. Some have been there two times.

[00:01:31]And even Southeast Asia.

[00:01:34]Nigeria have the lowest turnout of elections in every election cycle.

[00:01:38]We have the highest voters apathy.

[00:01:41]And it shows us if people are not even interested in their election.

[00:01:44]We have the worst, the least.

[00:01:47]I've never been to a country that has the low numbers we have, tens of percentage of voters.

[00:01:52]I think I need to do something about it.

[00:01:54]Need to study, get consultants to look at it. I what is the cost and do something. As young people you must be involved in the electoral process. If I ask how many of you have your voters cards now, probably 50% of you don't even have voters cards. And you're asking me to go and contest election. So, you must participate you must participate in the electoral process.

[00:02:18]Yes. You are asking me to come and contest the next election.

[00:02:24]Presidential race is not a computer game.

[00:02:29]But I've heard you and I will consult widely.

[00:02:33]The but most important thing is in Nigeria that the young people will have hope.

[00:02:41]A Nigeria that will plan for our grandchildren.

[00:02:47]This country is people travel abroad to go and enjoy.

[00:02:51]These things don't happen overnight.

[00:02:53]Leaders after leaders plan for the grandchildren.

[00:02:57]And build their country. So, every year you see things being added and added until they are in this kind of semi-paradise world they enjoy.

[00:03:08]The jagbajantis syndrome in Nigeria has to stop.

[00:03:12]The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop.

[00:03:18]Even African countries that we helped African countries that even when we are students part of our scholarship money is we are contributing to solve problems in those countries.

[00:03:32]I treat Nigerians as if we are all bunch of idiots and criminals because probably we leaders have not been able to build our country.

[00:03:45]Give hope to our young people.

[00:03:47]And even attract others to come here and work.

[00:03:51]This is a task that face all Nigerian leaders.

[00:03:55]This things could be done by any other person, may not necessarily be Jonathan.

[00:03:59]But I've heard you.

[00:04:01]I will consult.

[00:04:03]And probably first the the race is getting close. Your Excellency. Yeah. For many Nigerians within their early 20s and below, it sounds like music to their ears that Nigeria was once the largest economy under your watch. Don't you feel the weight on your shoulder to accede the request of these Nigerians to contest for the presidency of 2027 again. I thank you. I've heard them.

[00:04:34]Just like I said, you must have heard me. I said that contesting presidency is not a computer game.

[00:04:42]I have heard from the young people.

[00:04:46]I will consult.

[00:04:48]I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again.

[00:04:53]But I I'm telling you that I will consult.

[00:04:58]If there's need to, I will be back.

[00:05:03]Thank you.

[00:05:05]Thank you.

[00:05:06]Yeah, your mics.

[00:05:09]My brothers, my sisters, thank you so much.

[00:05:16]>> [cheering] >> Thank you.

[00:06:37]>> inspiration from Nigerians.

[00:06:39]It's because of his uh leadership qualities and virtues.

[00:06:44]And uh if you look at his antecedents in uh power struggles in this country power sustenance you discover that he's the man needed for the day.

[00:06:56]He's the man that can uh that could combat the inherent anomalies that has led us to this messy situation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[00:07:06]So, that is that's why you see over over 5 million of us were 5,000 of us were here 8th of April. Just just about a month ago. And we're here again with another over over 5 million again.

[00:07:20]It's a very it's a clarion call and we're fervently we're fervently in need of him.

[00:07:27]You have his record while he was in office. His records are there for him.

[00:07:30]His records are the selling point. He don't need too much campaign. He's already an international brand. He's a brand of achievement. He's a brand of purpose. He's a brand that is committed to his vision. We all know him for that and that is why you see all of us. We are members of various political parties as well. I'm an 80 80 80 C member.

[00:07:49]I have people who are PDP members. We are members who come ourselves together and we are working for him. So, what party do you suggest he run with if he if he eventually accepts this request?

[00:08:00]In the next 24 hours call me, I will tell you the party.

[00:08:02]Okay, so what do you make of his reaction to this appeal? Because he has said he was going to consult widely. He has neither accepted or rejected this appeal.

[00:08:11]>> What he said What he said is that he has heard from us.

[00:08:15]And then he concluded by telling that he will contest where the need arises. He's going to consult widely. Don't forget that there is a very limited timing for this consultation and this is having a window of 24 hours or so when the INEC will formally close that. So, in the next 24 hours you will hear from him.

[00:08:33]I'm sure I'm sure that the former president and the incoming president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has his party at hand already.

[00:08:43]You will know tomorrow.

[00:08:45]Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.

[00:09:21]Uh like I explained in Hausa I am a Nigerian that my ethnicity is caught across regions.

[00:09:34]I am not central, I'm Benue, I'm Mídóma.

[00:09:37]Then I have what it takes to explain Nigeria. I've been to over 500,000 I mean I've been to over 500 local governments out of the 774.

[00:09:50]He's a man that I've traversed the country with him from 2014 into 2015 before the election. So, so far while we are here, we came to appeal to his conscience to come and redeem Nigeria from this imminent collapse.

[00:10:06]And everybody that knows where we are now, Nigeria is actually going down the drain.

[00:10:16]Yes, the answer whether accept or reject is expected because he's still doing wider consultation.

[00:10:27]It's within the next 24 hours, I'm sure we'll get something concrete. Okay, what party are you expecting the former president to run on in 2023? You can see that the people that gathered here came from all backgrounds, all parties. It's a coalition. And people from the ruling party, there are people from ADC, there are people from NDC.

[00:10:51]So, it is a coalition of Nigerians that want to vote against bad governance and the hunger in the land and insecurity.

[00:11:01]Thank you so much. Thank you. God bless you.

[00:11:05]So, that you will do the voice so that