Abuja, Nigeria – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over what he described as covert moves to establish a one-party system in Nigeria, warning that such political manipulation could destabilise the country’s fragile democracy.
Speaking on Wednesday at a memorial lecture in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, Jonathan emphasised that while one-party systems may work in other nations, Nigeria’s unique diversity demands an inclusive political structure.
He cited Tanzania under Julius Nyerere as an example of a nation that successfully operated a one-party state—but stressed that it was achieved through careful planning and national consensus, not political manoeuvring.
“If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are getting into,” Jonathan said. “But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for a crisis.”
The former president’s remarks come amid mounting concerns about the diminishing space for opposition voices in Nigeria’s political landscape. Recent waves of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and warnings from civil society groups have intensified fears of creeping authoritarianism.
Also present at the lecture, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi decried the current state of the nation, lamenting that the vision and sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding fathers were already being betrayed.
“The labour of our heroes past is already in vain,” Obi said. “The state of insecurity, poverty in rural communities, and the rising cost of living have all betrayed their sacrifices.”
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who chaired the event, echoed calls for national unity and urged leaders to prioritise collective interest over personal ambition.
Jonathan also encouraged the family of Chief Edwin Clark to make the memorial lecture an annual tradition to preserve his legacy of patriotism, equity, and unity.
Comments