Jonathan urges Nigerian leaders not to disappoint founding fathers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard and Daily Post
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan called on leaders and citizens to build a Nigeria in line with the aspirations of its founding fathers at a colloquium in Lagos marking Herbert Macaulay’s 162nd anniversary. He called in particular for leaders to be chosen for competence rather than ethnicity or religion, according to Vanguard.
Goodluck Jonathan called on Nigerian political leaders and citizens to prioritise competence and merit when choosing leaders, rather than ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation, according to a statement by his media adviser Ikechukwu Eze. He spoke on Saturday as chairman of the colloquium organised in Lagos by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs to mark the 162nd anniversary of Herbert Macaulay.
Jonathan said this change was necessary for Nigeria to progress and said the country’s difficulties remained linked in particular to corruption, insecurity, weak institutions, inadequate infrastructure and shortcomings in the education system. He called on young people to draw inspiration from Herbert Macaulay, presented as an advocate of a united Nigeria beyond tribal and religious divisions.
The former president also recalled that independence nationalists, including Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello, aspired to a sovereign state offering equal rights, economic opportunities, quality education, accessible healthcare and responsible governance. He cited South Korea, India and Singapore as examples of countries that had progressed in industrialisation, technology, education and human development.
At 66 years since independence, Jonathan called on the current generation not to pass its difficulties on to its children and grandchildren. He notably referred to leadership failures, instability in public policies, lack of infrastructure, insecurity and excessive dependence on raw material exports.
