Former President Goodluck Jonathan has suggested the creation of two prominent buildings in Abuja to display the pictures of individuals who have contributed to Nigeria’s challenges, so their descendants can understand their forefathers’ roles in the country’s struggles. Speaking at the book launch of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Jonathan urged Nigerians to reject bad behavior from political leaders, stating that such a shift in attitude would force leaders to act more responsibly.
Jonathan also criticized the practice of using military personnel for election duties, asserting that it overstretches the armed forces. He argued that elections should be handled by the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), drawing comparisons to countries like Botswana and Senegal, where the military plays little to no role in elections.
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of leadership integrity in ensuring free and fair elections. He shared his experience of how Jonathan intervened to maintain a credible election process during his time as governor. Obi linked election credibility to addressing corruption among public officials, stressing that reducing theft and misconduct would improve both security and election integrity.
