Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed deep concern over Nigerians’ tolerance of bad political behavior, urging citizens to demand accountability from their leaders.
Speaking at the book launch of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan criticized the widespread acceptance of political misconduct, particularly the militarization of elections in the country.
Jonathan lamented that many Nigerians have become desensitized to corrupt practices and electoral malpractice, allowing political leaders to act with impunity.
“We, Nigerians, celebrate the wrong thing. And I believe one day, the country will get to the level where people will reject bad behavior. When that day comes, the political class will have no choice but to act responsibly,” he said.
He further emphasized that societal rejection of unethical conduct would force politicians to adhere to proper governance standards.
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“The day we collectively say we no longer accept the wrong thing, we, the political class, will behave normally. People must reject us if we behave wrongly.”
Jonathan even suggested establishing a symbolic reminder of Nigeria’s troubled political history.
“Maybe one day, we will have two big buildings in Abuja where we will put pictures of people—whether dead or alive—who have messed up this country so that their grandchildren will know their forefathers were part of Nigeria’s problems,” he said.
Jonathan strongly criticized the involvement of military personnel in elections, arguing that such deployments overstretch the armed forces and compromise the democratic process.
“In most other countries, the military doesn’t get involved in the day-to-day management of elections. Some nations use them to transport election materials to dangerous areas, but manning polling booths and staying around polling stations? That’s unheard of,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons, Jonathan highlighted how countries like Botswana and Senegal successfully conduct elections without heavy security presence, allowing citizens to vote without intimidation.
“In Botswana, police officers handle election security while the military focuses on protecting government assets. In Senegal, electoral officials manage polling stations, and the police remain outside unless called in to resolve an issue,” he noted.
He urged Nigerian authorities to adopt similar models to enhance electoral integrity and voter confidence.
