Former president Goodluck Jonathan calls for a review of the democratic system
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post and Vanguard
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan calls for an in-depth review of the democratic system and of how leaders are chosen. At a colloquium held in Lagos to mark the 162nd birth anniversary of nationalist Herbert Macaulay, he argues that the country’s development remains blocked as long as leaders are selected on primitive criteria.
Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the colloquium on the theme 'Nationalism and Nation Building', said the country’s founders aimed for far more than an end to colonial rule: a united and prosperous nation, economic freedom, industrial growth, quality education, accessible healthcare and social justice. He wondered whether Nigeria had reached that level of development, while acknowledging progress in several sectors. He urges that competence and merit be prioritised when recruiting leaders, whereas political choices are too often dictated by religion, ethnicity or language, according to Vanguard.
Jonathan describes Nigeria’s democracy as 'opaque et amorphe' and says it must be restructured to guarantee popular participation, the rule of law, respect for human rights, an independent judiciary, accountability, pluralism and a dynamic civil society. He also calls for functional education, research-oriented universities and a national development programme with measurable targets. Among the obstacles he lists are poor leadership, fragile institutions, corruption, inconsistent policies, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and excessive dependence on commodity exports.
Jonathan praised Herbert Macaulay as a man of remarkable intelligence and courage, at once an engineer, journalist, political activist and public intellectual, and one of the first to challenge colonial injustice. In his view, Macaulay’s struggle went beyond transferring political power from the colonial authorities to Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu was represented by the deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, who described Macaulay as a visionary leader, patriot and champion of justice. The federal government, he added, is carrying out reforms to improve access to quality education as part of its 'Renewed Hope' programme. Bode George, chairman of the family committee, asked the head of state to return the site of Macaulay’s former residence on Marina to the family, so that a permanent memorial hall could be set up there. Other attendees included Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former foreign affairs minister Ike Nwachukwu, emeritus professor Jide Osuntokun, Adele Jinadu and Eghosa Osaghae, director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
