Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday called on Nigerians to protect the country’s democracy from derailment into some form of fascism.
BASIC FACTS
- President Jonathan on Wednesday called on Nigerians to protect the country`s fledgling democracy.
- President Jonathan noted that democracy is still the best form of government.
- He spoke in the wake of the challenges that Nigeria is currently grappling with and the rundown to the 2023 elections.
WHAT WE KNOW
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday called on Nigerians to protect the country’s democracy from derailment into some form of fascism, Clariform can report.
The former president made the call during a conference to mark the 70th birthday of the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Kukah in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to former President Jonathan, this is not the time for Nigerians to lower their guard and allow democracy to crumble. Jonathan maintained that democracy remains the best form of government that can effectively manage the nation’s diversity.
The former president also stated that many people, especially youths are becoming disillusioned about politics and democracy.
He cautioned against abandoning democracy as that is the only practical way out of the current problem and for the nation to make progress.
President Jonathan noted that democracy is not about winning elections, but that it is also about accommodating people’s views.
Jonathan also spoke about the six-month-old industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), narrating how his government resolved one of the industrial disputes in one night.
“The society we are managing is quite complex. Now, we are talking about ASUU strike. During my time too, ASUU had four months of strike. Different committees were meeting but nothing was working. I said ‘How can our children stay out of school for four months?” Jonathan said at the event.
Also present at the event were dignitaries including the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, state governors, and chairmen of political parties among others.
NOTABLE QUOTE
Former President Jonathan at the event said, “Obviously many people, especially our youths, are becoming increasingly disillusioned about our politics and democracy,”
“However, we must remain on the democratic path because it is the only practical way of effectively managing our diversity, developing sustainably, and recording progress as a nation.
“The task before all of us is not to lower our guards lest the democracy we cherish today succumbs to threats and recedes into fascism tomorrow because there are signs, looking across the states, that we are derailing into some quasi fascism.”
“The society we are managing is quite complex. Now, we are talking about ASUU strike. During my time too, ASUU had four months of strike. Different committees were meeting but nothing was working. I said ‘How can our children stay out of school for four months?”
“So, I had to call a meeting of all the leadership of ASUU. I presided over the meeting with my vice president. The Attorney General was there. I said that that night we must solve the problem. The Attorney General was there; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was there; the ministers of education were there; the labour ministers were there; the finance minister and everybody that had to do with it [strike].
“And I thought that my being there would help us to do things quickly. But we spent the whole night. We finished like 5:30 am and the strike was called off. So, there were issues.”
COMMENTARY
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was Nigerian President from 2010, when he took over after the death of then President Umaru Yar’Adua to 2015 when he handed to opposition APC and Mohammed Buhari, after losing his reelection bid.
President Jonathan has since leaving office, remained a rallying point for many. He has also spent the better part of his time in search of peace and democracy across sub Saharan Africa, especially as ECOWAS envoy.
There were signs and insinuations that he was planning to have another run for the nation`s top job under the banner of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), but this did eventually materialize.
However, while these insinuations were out in the public domain the former president was virtually silent on national issues. The few times he ever spoke out, there was hardly a critical comment about the Buhari administration, even while things went from bad to worse.
Nevertheless, Clariform welcomes the new spirit from the former president, as a call for the protection of democracy in Nigeria is no doubt a clarion call, and timely too.
Indeed protecting Nigerian democracy from anti-democratic elements has become germane to not only consolidate the hard earned democracy but also to guarantee the nation’s development.
