NewStats: 3,261,808 , 8,175,232 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 04:14 PM 442a2p

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says political leaders in Nigeria should not hand over a democracy built on the politics of region and religion to future generations.

Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the public lecture to mark the country’s 25 years of democracy.

The former president spoke on ‘25 years of enduring democracy: Prospects for the future’, which was the theme of the public lecture.

Jonathan said the political class must lead by example and work with unity of purpose to ensure that Nigerians get the dividends of democracy.
democracy to yield its desired dividend, we, the political class and elites, must lead by example and work with unity of purpose to guarantee peace and social justice for the citizens,” the former president said.

“Our lifestyle must reflect that we are elected people. A situation where children of political officeholders go to parties and start spraying dollars is not the kind of democracy we want to witness in this country.

“We must work together despite our political differences, accommodate our diversity, and prioritise policies that will impact the lives of our citizens.

"As we project towards celebrating a golden jubilee of uninterrupted democracy, which I believe we will, we are celebrating 25 years, we will also celebrate the golden jubilee.”

Jonathan called for a model of democracy that is “more inclusive and reinforces social cohesion”.

“Let me say that we need to come up with a model of democratic practice that will be more inclusive and reinforce social cohesion,” he said.

“The zero sort of kind of politics, where a winner takes it all, has not helped us to foster unity and political justice.

"A political party, for example, that scores up to 30% of votes during an election at either the national or subnational level should have something to go with.

“I’m not clearly recommending proportional representation, but different governments come up with models of democracy that suit them.

“All the presidents of the world don’t emerge through the same process. In Nigeria, we elect our president directly. In a number of countries, presidents are elected indirectly.

“So our national assembly can also look at models that will fit us. A party that even sometimes gets 40 percent of the votes, especially at the state level, will have nothing.

“This gives rise to this do-or-die politics. The zero-sum approach, I think, is inimical to consolidating and strengthening our democracy.

“We must not hand over to our children a democracy built on the politics of the region and religion. A democracy built on ethnicity does not endure; it will continue to wobble.”

https://www.thecable.ng/democracy-built-on-ethnicity-does-not-endure-itll-continue-to-wobble-says-jonathan/amp/
"For

Abi

Especially the one built on Emilokan ethnic and tribal laced with extreme bigotry

The last pan Nigeria president we had.

Well said my hero

Nigerians had it coming alright.
We warned the political illiterates to vote wisely in 2015!

My best president after Yar'adua

25 years in democracy and Nigeria still remains in darkness, no good road, no good health services, no effects of democracy on Nigerians, people are suffering in the hand of democracy, infact military government even better than this practice of democracy. Nigeria democracy has failed let us try region government if Nigeria will work out in better way.

Ok

Fact

Dfr

Emiloko crew don spoil your legacy daddy GEJ

NIGERIA is not practicing democracy government but greediness and self centered government.

True boss.

Parliamentary system is the only true way for Nigeria!

Jonathan still doesn't have balls till date.

Just mention Obi's name and stop speaking in parables.

You were president sir. You didn't try to change it then because it seemed to favour you. Rest Mr Jonathan.

Bobloco:
Especially the one built on Emilokan ethnic and tribal laced with extreme bigotry 

The one that Peter Obi built that made him to have 95% of igbo vote is what.

GEJ the living legend

Justiceganduje:
The last pan Nigeria president we had.

Jonathan, the ineffectual buffon that looted Nigeria to a stupor.

He is talking about Peter Obi mediocre approach in last election.

Lmao see who is talking haha


No be Jona be this ?


Mofo oooooh !

SOCRATES PREDICTION OF THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY
Democracy must fall because it will try to tailor to everyone:

The poor will want the wealth of the rich, and democracy will give it to them.

Young people will want to be respected as elderly, and democracy will give it to them.

Women will want to be like men, and democracy will give it to them.

Foreigners will want the rights of the natives and democracy will give it to them.

Thieves and fraudsters will want important government functions, and democracy will give it to them.

And at that time, when thieves and fraudsters finally, and democratically take authority; because criminals and evil doers want power, there will be worse dictatorship than in the time of any monarchy or oligarchy.

Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

They will not listen ....they will learn the hard way ...what a shame


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1NtN-LJfNQ

Abokis are not the problem,
Yoruba are the problem of Nigeria, take it or leave it,
Just to embarrass the igbos, they brought in a former military coup dictator somebody that is supposed to be in jail now, so buhari rules, he becomes the next president emilokan, u see his selfish interest and intentions?
I would gladly want to be alive to see the next tribe that will rule after tinubu

Comionate president

Bobloco:
Especially the one built on Emilokan ethnic and tribal laced with extreme bigotry 

Bobloco:
Especially the one built on Emilokan ethnic and tribal laced with extreme bigotry 

How come Alhaji Atiku and Tinubu didn't get substantial votes in South East?

Whenever you people are looking for bigots and tribalists, just gather yourselves at the village square, erect a giant mirror and look at it closely. Therein lies the answer.

Trash

ceejay80s:
Abokis are not the problem,
Yoruba are the problem of Nigeria, take it or leave it,
Just to embarrass the igbos, they brought in a former military coup dictator so that he becomes the next president emilokan, u see his selfish interest and intentions?
I would gladly want to be alive to see the next tribe that will rule after tinubu

True talk. But GEJ Bleep up small too... Well, all iz wella

The last reformed,gentle, educated and polished President Nigeria had.

Though you had the opportunity to change things through the approval of 2014CONFAB but delayed for political reasons


Indeed there was a country

georgeakins:


Jonathan, the ineffectual buffon that looted Nigeria to a stupor.

Did you see how much CBN was looting under Buhari who claimed to be fighting corruption? Was your life this miserable under Jonathan?
Whatever you called this man, he was never found guilty of any corruption case, the whole world is embracing him today, he was not a religious bigot, after Jonathan, presidents started appointing themselves as minister, ministers and aides started stealing in trillions and prices started going up by x100%
Jonathan is the best President Nigeria has ever had considering that he controlled 70% of Yarad'ua's tenure as well

True democrat and my President.Those who asked for the unknown CHANGE in 2015 and did everything possible to vote you out due to overfeeding are writhing in intense hunger right now.