Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against any covert attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, warning that such a development could threaten the nation’s already fragile democracy.
Jonathan issued the warning on Wednesday during a memorial lecture in Abuja honouring the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark. He expressed concern over the gradual erosion of political pluralism and the marginalisation of opposition voices, which he said could lead to democratic instability.
While acknowledging that some nations, like Tanzania under Julius Nyerere, successfully implemented a one-party system for national unity, Jonathan stressed that Nigeria’s diverse ethnic, religious, and political fabric makes such a system unsuitable.
“Nigeria is not Tanzania,” he said. “Our strength lies in inclusion, balance, and respect for opposing views. Any attempt to stifle opposition or manipulate the political space can only deepen division and distrust.”
He therefore called for continued commitment to multi-party democracy and warned political actors against sacrificing national stability for partisan gain.
