Our Correspondent
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has made a passionate call to Nigerians to name and shame bad leaders.
He informed that once the citizens begin to demand and insist on the right thing being done, the political leaders will start doing the right thing.
Jonathan made this statement at the book launch of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in Abuja, where he also criticized the deployment of military personnel for election duties in Nigeria, saying it overstretched the military.
HE Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi, others at Solomon Arase’s book launch in Abuja Jonathan’s statement is a reflection of his concern about the state of governance in Nigeria and the need for citizens to take an active role in demanding good governance.
He emphasized that Nigerians have a tendency to celebrate the wrong things and that this has contributed to the country’s problems.
According to him, once Nigerians begin to reject bad behavior and demand that the right things be done, the political leaders will start to behave normally.
The former President also criticized the deployment of military personnel for election duties in Nigeria, saying that it is not the best practice.
He noted that in most other countries, the military is not involved in the day-to-day management of elections, but rather provides strategic support, such as transporting election materials to dangerous areas.
Jonathan argued that the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be responsible for managing elections, and that the military should only be involved in providing security for government facilities and assets.
Botswana, police officers manage election security while the military secure government facilities, and that in Senegal, polling stations are run by electoral officials with police stationed outside, intervening only when necessary
Jonathan cited examples from Botswana and Senegal, where elections are conducted with minimal security interference.
He noted that in Botswana, police officers manage election security while the military secure government facilities, and that in Senegal, polling stations are run by electoral officials with police stationed outside, intervening only when necessary.
He emphasized that this approach allows the electorate to vote without intimidation and ensures that the election process is free and fair.
The former President expressed hope that Nigeria would evolve to a point where bad political behavior is universally rejected, and that the country would have a system where leaders are held accountable for their actions.
He suggested that one way to achieve this is to have a system where the names and pictures of leaders who have messed up the country are displayed in a public place, so that their grandchildren can see the role their forefathers played in the country’s problems.
Electoral credibility is determined by the integrity of those in charge
Jonathan’s statement was supported by the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who emphasized that electoral credibility is determined by the integrity of those in charge.
Obi stressed that reducing corruption among public officials would have a positive impact on crime rates, and that election policing is easy if people are not ready to manipulate the elections.
He noted that during his time as Governor of Anambra State, he ensured that elections were free and fair, and that he did not interfere with the electoral process.
Overall, Jonathan’s statement highlights the need for Nigerians to take an active role in demanding good governance and holding their leaders accountable.
It also emphasizes the need for the country to adopt a system that promotes free and fair elections, and for the military to be deployed only in situations where it is absolutely necessary.
The statement is a call to action for Nigerians to demand that their leaders do the right thing, and to reject bad behavior in all its forms.
