Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against the dangers of establishing a one-party system, stressing that any country considering such a model must approach it with caution, a strategic framework, and a clearly defined vision for its outcome.
He made these remarks in Abuja during a memorial lecture and tribute event held in honour of the late Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
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Jonathan expressed concern that efforts to implement a one-party structure purely for political convenience or to serve individual ambitions could harm the nation’s democratic fabric.
He also encouraged the family of the late former federal commissioner to consider instituting an annual lecture in his memory, aimed at advancing the values he championed—particularly national unity, fairness, and prosperity for all Nigerians.
Also speaking at the event, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, expressed dismay over the state of the nation, lamenting that “the labour of our heroes past was already in vain.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, decried the worsening poverty in rural communities, growing insecurity, and the escalating cost of living. He maintained that the efforts and sacrifices of leaders like Pa Edwin Clark had not yielded the desired impact in contemporary Nigeria.
Delivering his address as chairman of the occasion, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, emphasized that keeping Nigeria united and undivided is a shared responsibility.
He noted that progress would only be possible if national interest consistently took precedence over individual ambition. Chief died on February 17, 2025 at the age of 97.
