Nigeria’s Democracy Drifting Towards Dictatorship – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that all hands must be on deck to keep Nigeria’s democracy from slipping into a dictatorship, BRANDNEWSDAY learnt.

Jonathan gave a speech in Abuja at the celebration of Matthew Kukah, the Catholic bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, turning 70 observed by BRANDNEWSDAY.

He said, “The task before all of us is not to lower our guard, lest the democracy we cherish today succumbs to threats and recedes into fascism tomorrow, and there are signs already.

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“Looking at the states and so on, we are derailing towards quasi-fascist form of government, but democracy is not only about winning elections alone, it is about accommodation. We, as leaders at the centre and at the state levels, especially at this time when elections are coming, must accommodate different views.

“Towards this goal, we are again faced with a good opportunity of choosing our leaders as the nation prepares to go to the polls next year. Let us choose those that will take us to the desired destination and the promised land.”He said, “The task before all of us is not to lower our guard, lest the democracy we cherish today succumbs to threats and recedes into fascism tomorrow, and there are signs already.

“Looking at the states and so on, we are derailing towards quasi-fascist form of government, but democracy is not only about winning elections alone, it is about accommodation. We, as leaders at the centre and at the state levels, especially at this time when elections are coming, must accommodate different views.

“Towards this goal, we are again faced with a good opportunity of choosing our leaders as the nation prepares to go to the polls next year. Let us choose those that will take us to the desired destination and the promised land.”

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The former Nigerian leader described Nigeria as a work in progress, adding that until that work was done, people like Kukah, who serve as the conscience of the nation, will continue to be around to constantly hold the mirror of the nation’s progression to its face.

“Nigeria may not be where we want it to and should be, but we should not give up or lose hope by focusing on only the negative.

“Judging from where we are coming from since independence in 1960, we may have been moving slowly in our journey of nationhood, but it is a journey of progress, all the same,” he added.

Jonathan recounted that under his administration, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities also went on a protracted strike, but he was able to put a stop to the situation. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State praised Kukah as a man who had an unwavering devotion for his country.

The event’s chairman, Tambuwal, reaffirmed the Catholic bishop’s optimism in the potential of a new Nigeria.

Despite the controversy surrounding Kukah’s criticism of the country’s poor governance, he claimed that Kukah still felt Nigeria could and would emerge from the gloom of failing political leadership.

According to Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State, leaders in the nation must assure inclusion and justice in order to promote peace and progress.