Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concern over Nigeria’s political direction, warning that the country may face serious consequences if it continues on the path toward becoming a one-party state. He issued the warning in Abuja during a memorial event held in honour of the late elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 97.
Jonathan noted that using political tactics to push Nigeria toward a one-party system could lead to crisis. He explained that while some countries have managed such systems successfully, Nigeria’s ethnic and religious diversity requires a more balanced and thoughtful political approach.
“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 going in for,” he said. “But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for crisis.”
The former president’s statement comes amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which many observers see as a threat to political balance in the country. Notably, several prominent figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties have recently switched allegiance to the APC.
This trend has stirred concerns that the opposition is losing strength, particularly as some current PDP governors are believed to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Jonathan further explained that historical examples, such as Julius Nyerere’s leadership in Tanzania, show that one-party systems can work—but only under specific and inclusive planning. “It was properly planned; it was not by accident,” he said, referring to Nyerere’s strategy to unite a divided nation.
Other notable figures at the event also raised alarms. Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, stressed the importance of prioritizing national interest over personal ambitions. “Nigeria can only make progress when national interest is placed above personal ambition,” he said.
Senator John Azuta-Mbata, leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, shared similar concerns, calling Nigeria’s unity “fragile” and urging deliberate efforts to maintain peace and cohesion. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, went further by saying the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past heroes were being wasted due to insecurity and poverty.
