Former President Goodluck Jonathan has shed light on why his administration was unable to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
The former president, who spoke during a condolence visit to the home of the late Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Sunday in Lagos, cited political tensions and internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 general elections as some of the reasons his government did not implement the confab recommendations.
He was accompanied on the trip to Lagos by Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone, and Bode George, former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South).
Reflecting on the historic conference, Jonathan praised Adebanjo’s critical role in ensuring its success, noting that the initiative would not have been possible without the support of respected national figures.
“Without people like him and other leaders, the conference wouldn’t have taken place because there was initial suspicion that I wanted to manipulate the system,” Jonathan said.
He recalled how some participants sought his guidance on key issues, but he insisted that the delegates, many of them seasoned professionals and experienced public figures, were better positioned to make decisions.
“More than 50 percent of the members were more experienced than me. It was a benevolent privilege that made me set up the Confab,” he added.
Despite the significance of the conference’s recommendations, Jonathan explained that the timing was not right for their implementation, given the political climate and the looming elections.
“It was not the time we could present such a document,” he said. “We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything. The outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”
The former president described the passing of Adebanjo and Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), as a monumental loss for Nigeria, emphasizing their commitment to justice and national development.
“Our dear leader was not just the leader of Afenifere; he was a leader of this country,” Jonathan said.
““He was a man of enormous wisdom, courage, and willingness to do the right thing.
“He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice. Those were the things he stood for.”
Source: Ripples