Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has delivered a cautionary message to politicians, urging them not to resort to blackmailing or manipulating the judiciary and society. The former President emphasized that such actions could potentially provoke a strong backlash from the younger generation.
In a video circulating on social media, Goodluck Jonathan addressed a gathering, stressing the vital importance of upholding the rule of law and maintaining transparency in political affairs.
He remarked, “As we go about performing our duties, we must be cautious not to resort to tactics of blackmail or undue pressure on the judiciary. The judiciary, being a conservative institution, should not be coerced. Often, when we attain positions of political power, we might become blinded, especially when we have a role in security forces. However, society is evolving, and we must remain conscious of this.”
Jonathan underlined the growing influence of civil society and the increasing responsiveness of younger generations to perceived injustices. He shared an illustrative incident from his time as President, referring to a neighboring nation, Burkina Faso.
Describing the scenario, he recalled, “In Burkina Faso, there was a constitutional provision that allowed the parliament’s speaker to assume the presidency in the absence of the President or Vice President. Amid attempts to amend the constitution to enable a third term for the President, public sentiment held that the parliamentary process had been compromised. This led to a spontaneous uprising of young people who stormed the parliament and compelled the speaker to flee.”
Continuing his account, Jonathan highlighted, “The movement escalated to the point where the mob aimed to confront the President. Fearing for his safety, the President fled to Cote D’Ivoire. In this vacuum, the military intervened to stabilize the situation.”
Jonathan drew a profound lesson from the Burkina Faso incident, cautioning his audience, “This story underscores the fact that we, as politicians and holders of influential roles, must recognize the evolving dynamics of society. We must wholeheartedly adhere to the rule of law, for the consequences of manipulating political processes could lead to unforeseen and uncontrollable consequences.”
