Up next in 10
Political Actors Must Listen To Citizens' Voice - Goodluck Jonathan Recalls How 18 Elders Advise ...
Jun 12, 2024
Political Actors Must Listen To Citizens' Voice - Goodluck Jonathan Recalls How 18 Elders Advise Sani Abacha ~ OsazuwaAkonedo #Abacha #Abiola #Bola #democracy #Ebele #Goodluck #Jonathan #June12 #MKO #news #Sani #Tinubu Former Nigeria President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Has Called On All Political Actors Especially In Nigeria To Listen The Voices Of Their Citizens. https://osazuwaakonedo.news/political-actors-must-listen-to-citizens-voice-goodluck-jonathan-recalls-how-18-elders-advise-sani-abacha/12/06/2024/ #Politics Published: June 12th, 2024 Reshared: June 12, 2024 9:48 am
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
former Nigeria president goodl a
0:02
Jonathan has called on all political
0:03
actors especially in Nigeria to listen
0:05
the voices of their citizens goodl a
0:08
Jonathan also recalled how 18 Elders
0:09
from northern Nigeria wrote a letter to
0:11
the B military Juna General s abacha
0:13
which the former h of State ignored
0:15
former president Jonathan met the call
0:17
while speaking as the chairman of the
0:18
Democracy public lecture with the team
0:20
25 years of enduring democracy Prospect
0:22
for the future and the old Banquet Hall
0:24
presidential Villa Abuja on Tuesday June
0:27
11th good Lu a Jonathan stated that
0:29
previous Democratic periods were cut
0:31
short by military interventions but the
0:32
restoration of democracy in 1999 marked
0:35
A New Beginning Jonathan said that the
0:37
past 25 years of uninterrupted democracy
0:39
in Nigeria marked a significant
0:41
Milestone despite facing challenges
0:43
according to him Nigeria has seen
0:44
economic growth infrastructural
0:46
development advancements in arts and
0:48
sports and peaceful political
0:50
transitions in the past 25 years EXs
0:53
remarks by his Excellency Dr goodlock E
0:55
Jonathan president federal republic of
0:57
Nigeria 2010 2015 at the 24 democracy
1:00
the lecture te 25 years of enduring
1:03
democracy the prospect for the future
1:05
Abuja June 10th 2024 I am pleased to
1:09
join you all at this very significant
1:11
event I thank the federal government for
1:13
inviting me to Cher the 2024 democracy
1:15
day anniversary public lecture a
1:17
momentous occasion to Mark our nation's
1:18
25 years of uninterrupted democracy 25
1:21
years ago on May 29th 1999 the Fourth
1:24
Republic was birthed and our nation
1:26
embarked on a historic Journey that will
1:27
forever sh our country's future Against
1:30
All Odds we emerged from the shadows of
1:32
military rule and ation in a new era of
1:34
democratic governance this achievement
1:36
is a testament to the resilience courage
1:38
and uning determination of the Nigerian
1:40
people at this point let me commend
1:42
General Abdul salani abaka who stood
1:44
against all Temptations and pressure to
1:46
prolong military rule in Nigeria today
1:48
we look back with a sense of gratitude
1:50
to God and appreciation to many of the
1:51
heroes of our nation who through
1:53
selfless service and courage work
1:54
towards the Democracy that we enjoy
1:56
today when we mentioned June 12th we
1:58
remember chief mko ABA for his
2:00
contributions to the consolidation of
2:02
our democracy we also remember the
2:04
famous letter signed by 18 n elders and
2:06
delivered by Chief Sol
2:09
alaj a and chief suay a to General s
2:12
abach demanding the return of Nigeria to
2:14
democratic rule the signatories to the
2:16
lat where Chief Solomon la alhaji aduma
2:19
alhaji ka alhaji
2:22
abakari Professor AMU abdulahi Dr suan
2:26
Kumo Maman Gaz alhaj abakar
2:30
alhaji lamido Professor Jerry Ghana
2:33
colel abaka Omar retired honorable Isaac
2:35
shahu Dr Usman bugaj alhaji muhamed Aika
2:39
Dr Steve Aima Professor Musa yaku Dr
2:42
Faruk abdulaziz considering our
2:44
political history as a country 25 years
2:46
of unbroken democracy is a milestone M
2:48
of Celebration as it shows we are making
2:51
some progress in Democratic governance
2:53
despite the challenges we face in our
2:54
journey of nationhood notably the path
2:57
towards Democratic consolidation has
2:58
been a difficult one
3:00
the first second and third republics of
3:02
our Democratic experiment were abruptly
3:04
ended by the military and mean political
3:06
crisis and social tensions after the G18
3:08
letter on May 8 1998 members of the g34
3:12
in a letter signed by Dr Alex U the
3:14
former vice president had also owned
3:16
General AER to reject his adoption as
3:19
presidential candidate and quck power
3:21
the return of democracy in 1999 after
3:24
many years of military Reign signaled a
3:26
new friend in our national journey and
3:28
our shared vision of unity peace and
3:30
progress in the last 25 years we have
3:32
made modest progress in this regard amid
3:34
some challenges as a nation we built an
3:37
economy that was once the biggest in the
3:38
African continent experienced
3:40
significant infrastructural growth met
3:42
stries in the Arts and sports and
3:44
recorded many peaceful political
3:45
transitions at the national and
3:46
subnational levels democracy has also
3:49
brought about improved access to
3:50
governance Amplified silent voices and
3:52
reinforced the idea of sovereignty
3:54
whenever I tune into Nigerian TV
3:56
stations especially in the morning and
3:58
see young men and women discussing and
3:59
interrogating contemporary political
4:01
issues and holding leaders to account I
4:03
thank God for democracy and appreciate
4:05
the gains we have Leed over the years
4:06
today citizens have come to terms with
4:08
the idea of Representative governance as
4:10
they have over the years expressed their
4:12
power to choose their leaders and demand
4:13
accountable leadership and good
4:15
governance our Civic SP has largely
4:17
flourished with a vibrant Civil Society
4:19
Community increased media freedoms and
4:21
an active praise our journey to
4:23
democratic consolidation has not been an
4:25
easy one it has been a mixed B of gains
4:27
and losses progress and pain within this
4:29
25 years we have continued to deal with
4:32
the issues of insecurity social equality
4:34
unemployment as well as electoral
4:36
disputes and violence despite the
4:38
challenges associated with democracy the
4:40
general feeling is that citizens prefer
4:42
democracy to any other form of
4:43
government as a nation our result has
4:46
been challenged many times but through
4:47
sh faith and unity we have continued to
4:50
march on we must underscore the fact
4:52
that democracy is a journey and not a
4:54
destination our democracy though still
4:56
young has wed storms overcome challenges
4:59
and problem endurance it has become a
5:01
Beacon of Hope not just for our nation
5:03
but for the entire African continent in
5:06
this 25 years through four power
5:07
transitions from one president to
5:09
another including the death of a seting
5:10
president we have seen the gradual
5:12
strengthening of our Democratic
5:13
institutions the expansion of civil
5:15
liberties and the active participation
5:17
of our citizenry in the political
5:18
process this progress while commendable
5:21
also reminds us that our work is far
5:23
from done it is therefore time to make
5:25
this journey simless through good
5:27
citizenship patriotic Service as well as
5:29
sacrificial and exemplary stewardship we
5:32
must continue to build upon the
5:33
foundations LED deeping our Democratic
5:35
roots and ensure that the dividends of
5:37
democracy are felt by all Nigerians
5:39
regardless of their social economic or
5:41
Geographic status for democracy to yield
5:43
its desired dividends the political
5:45
class and Elite must lead by example and
5:47
work with unity of popes to guarantee
5:48
peace and social justice to the citizens
5:51
we must work together despite our
5:52
political differences accommodate our
5:54
diversity and prioritize policies that
5:56
will impact the lives of our citizens as
5:58
we project towards celebrating the
5:59
golden jubilee of our uninterrupted
6:01
democracy it is imperative to state that
6:03
we need to work assiduously towards
6:04
further strengthening State institutions
6:06
so that they can withstand the shocks
6:07
that threaten Democratic governance
6:09
democracy as a form of government is
6:11
anchored on SS of promises in line with
6:13
a nation's development and growth
6:14
aspirations the Fulfillment of these
6:16
promises reinforces the citizens trust
6:18
and faith in the government as we
6:20
celebrate 25 years of unbroken democracy
6:23
we look to the future with the hope that
6:24
democracy has come to stay and that
6:26
democracy will continue to take firm
6:28
rules in our nation and we will have
6:30
cause to celebrate a Centenary of
6:31
uninterrupted Democratic governance to
6:34
attend such a feat the political actors
6:36
and everyone at the helm of Affairs in
6:38
this country must listen to the voices
6:39
of the citizens the lifestyle of the
6:41
political class should reflect the
6:43
current realities in our land as I round
6:45
off let me say that we need to come up
6:47
with a model of democratic practice that
6:49
will be more inclusive and reinforce
6:50
social cohesion there zero some kind of
6:53
politics where a Winner Takes it all has
6:54
not helped to Foster unity and political
6:56
Justice a political party that scores up
6:58
to 30% of the votes in an election at
7:00
federal or States should not lose
7:02
everything we need to come up with
7:04
innovative solutions that will address
7:05
the challenge of political exclusion
7:07
that usually comes up after elections
7:09
zerus some politics has over the years
7:11
promoted desperation agitations and
7:13
disunity we need to work out a model
7:15
that guarantees political inclusion and
7:17
promotes unity and tolerance in the
7:18
poity let me conclude by saying that
7:21
together we can forge a Nigeria where
7:23
every citizen has a voice where
7:24
opportunities abound and where the
7:26
promise of a better tomorrow is not just
7:28
a dream but a tangible reality let us
7:30
therefore celebrate this Milestone with
7:32
pride and renewed determination let us
7:34
ensure that the next 25 years of our
7:36
democracy are even more transformative
7:38
more inclusive and more prosperous for
7:40
all in line with the warnings of our
7:42
national Anem to hand over to our
7:44
children inner without stain we must not
7:46
hand over to our children a democracy
7:47
built on politics of region and religion
7:50
democracy built on ethnicity does not
7:52
endure it will continue to wobble I
7:54
believe this program and others
7:56
commemorating this Landmark will point
7:57
the way to that glorious future and
7:59
prepare the for a Golding and Centenary
8:00
celebrations of enduring democracy I
8:03
thank you all years of military reain
8:05
signal a new phase in our national
8:08
journey and our shared vision of unity
8:12
peace and
8:13
progress in the last 25 years we have
8:17
made modest progress in this regard and
8:19
meet some
8:21
challenges as a nation we build an
8:24
economy that was once the biggest in
8:27
Africa in the African continent
8:29
we experience significant
8:32
infrastructural growth Mi strides in the
8:35
Arts and sports and recorded many
8:38
peaceful political transitions at the
8:40
national and subnational
8:43
levels democracy has also brought about
8:46
improved access to governance Amplified
8:50
silent voices and reinforced the idea of
8:55
sovereignty whenever I
8:58
tune to Nigerian station television
9:00
stations especially in the morning and I
9:03
seen young men and women discussing and
9:06
interrogating social issues and holding
9:10
government
9:11
accountable I always appreciate
9:18
democracy today citizens have come to
9:21
terms with the idea of Representative
9:23
governance as they have over the years
9:26
expressed their power to choose their
9:28
leaders and demand accountable
9:30
leadership and good
9:33
governance our Civic space has largely
9:36
flourished with a vibrant Civil Society
9:39
Community increased media freedoms and
9:43
very very active
9:45
press our journey to democratic
9:47
consolidation has not been an easy one
9:51
it has been a mixed bag of gains and
9:54
losses progress and
9:57
pain we have continued to deal with the
10:00
issue of
10:02
insecurity social
10:04
inequality unemployment as well as
10:07
electoral disputes and
10:10
violence despite the challenges
10:12
associated with democracy the general
10:15
feeling is that citizens prefer
10:18
democracy to any other form of
10:21
government not only in Nigeria but
10:24
almost across the
10:26
world as a nation our resolve has been
10:29
challenged many times but through she
10:33
faith and unity we have continued to
10:36
Manion and we will continue to
10:38
Manion we must underscore the fact that
10:41
democracy is a journey and not a
10:44
destination our democracy through our
10:48
democracy though still young as wethered
10:51
storms overcome challenges and proving
10:54
its
10:55
endurance it has become a Beacon of Hope
10:58
not just for our nation but for the
11:01
entire
11:02
continent in this 25
11:06
years through four power transition from
11:09
one president to the other I'm not
11:11
talking about the election but like King
11:13
said two
11:15
presidents uh hand over to
11:17
themselves but we have four situations
11:20
where presidents hand over to another
11:23
presidents even in a case where a seting
11:25
president died these are challenges that
11:28
could have
11:29
brought this Republic to another end but
11:33
we survived
11:37
it Democratic institutions have been
11:40
expanded this progress
11:43
will while this progress while
11:46
commendable also remind us that our work
11:50
is not yet done we still have more to do
11:54
it is therefore time to make this
11:56
journey seamless through good
11:59
citizenship patriotic Service as well as
12:03
sacrificial and exemplary
12:05
stewardship we must continue to build
12:08
upon the foundations
12:10
L deepen our Democratic roots and ensure
12:15
that the dividends of democracy are felt
12:18
by all Nigerians regardless of the
12:22
economic status or social status or
12:25
geographical status for democracy to
12:28
yield its desire dividends the political
12:31
class who the political class and Elite
12:34
must lead by example and work with unity
12:37
of purpose to guarantee peace and social
12:41
justice to the citizens and our
12:43
lifestyle must reflect that we are
12:46
elected people a situation where
12:48
children of political office holders go
12:50
to parties and start spraying dollars
12:53
it's not the kind of democracy we want
12:55
to witness in this country
13:01
we must work together despite our
13:03
political differences accommodate our
13:06
diversity and prioritize policies that
13:09
will impact the lives of our
13:12
citizens as we project towards
13:15
celebrating a golden jubilee of our
13:18
uninterrupted democracy which I believe
13:20
we will we are celebrating 25 years we
13:23
also celebrate the golden jubilee it's
13:25
imperative to state that we need to work
13:28
as ly towards further strengthening
13:31
State institutions so that they can
13:34
withstand the shocks that threaten
13:37
Democratic
13:38
governance democracy as a form of
13:41
government is anchored on sets of
13:44
promises in line with the nation's
13:46
development and growth
13:48
aspirations the Fulfillment of these
13:51
promises reinforces the citizens trust
13:54
and faith in the
13:56
government as we celebrate 25 years of
13:58
UN
13:59
democracy we look to the future with the
14:03
hope that democracy has come to stay and
14:06
that democracy will contined to take
14:09
them roots in our nation and we will
14:12
have cause to celebrate a Centenary of
14:15
uninterrupted Democratic governance of
14:18
course we wish our grandchildren luck to
14:21
celebrate
14:24
that to attain sour a Feit the political
14:28
actors and every everyone at the H of
14:31
Affairs in this country must listen to
14:33
the voices of the
14:35
citizens as I around up let me say that
14:38
we need to come up with a model of
14:41
democratic practice that will be more
14:44
inclusive and reinforces social cohesion
14:48
the zero some kind of politics where in
14:51
Winner Takes it all has not helped to
14:54
Foster unity and political Justice
14:59
a political party for example that score
15:01
up to 30% of
15:04
votes during an election either at the
15:06
national or subnational
15:08
level so have something to go home
15:12
with I'm not clearly recommending
15:16
proportional
15:18
representation but different governments
15:22
come up with models of democracy that
15:24
suits them after all the presidency we
15:26
are talking about all presidents of this
15:28
country
15:30
all presidents of the world don't emerge
15:31
through the same process Nigeria we
15:33
elect our president directly in number
15:35
of countries presidents are elected
15:37
indirectly the powers of a president are
15:39
defined by different constitutions and
15:41
so on and so forth so our National
15:43
Assembly can also look at models that
15:46
will suit us there Z sum that a party
15:49
that even sometime get
15:52
40% of votes at especially at the state
15:56
levels will have nothing
15:59
give rise to this Do or Die politics
16:03
that zome approach I think
16:05
isical to on consolidating and
16:08
strengthening our
16:11
democracy let me conclude by saying that
16:14
together we can force in Nigeria where
16:16
every citizen has a voice where
16:20
opportunities abound and where the
16:22
promise of a better tomorrow is not just
16:24
a dream but a tangible
16:27
reality let us therefore celebrate this
16:30
Milestone with pride and renew
16:34
determination let us ensure that the
16:37
next 25 years of our democracy are even
16:41
more
16:42
transformative and inclusive and more
16:45
prosperous for all of
16:48
us in line with the wenss of our
16:51
national anthem than the second St to
16:55
hand over to our children a banner
16:57
without stain
16:59
we must not hand over to our children a
17:01
democracy built on politics of region
17:04
and
17:05
religion a democracy build on ethnicity
17:09
does not endure it will continue to
17:13
wobble so for the honorable vice
17:17
president you represent also the
17:19
president for me we are hoping that he
17:23
will build more infrastructure for us
17:26
improve the quality of Education Health
17:28
facilities etc
17:31
etc but one key
17:33
thing that for the next 25 years you
17:36
will Midwife because you you are
17:38
starting the next 25
17:40
years is to build a democracy that will
17:44
reduce
17:45
friction the avalance of litigations
17:48
that follow every round of election in
17:50
Nigeria is very
17:52
embarrassing and because of the kind of
17:55
democracy we
17:56
practice the democracy build on all
17:59
kinds of sentiments either the way you
18:02
worship your God or from the map of the
18:04
country you come from you will have to
18:06
gradually make sure that in the next 25
18:09
years this is
18:11
diluted if we must have a solid and
18:15
enduring democracy and I know you and
18:19
the president Buu who was a key actor in
18:23
the June 12
18:24
crisis have the capacity to navigate
18:27
through that process
18:31
I believe this program and others
18:33
commemorating this Landmark will point
18:37
the way to that glorious F and prepare
18:40
the nation for a golden and sary
18:43
celebrations of enduring democracy I
18:46
thank you
18:55
all bringing you the news in a more dig
18:58
so WI
#News
#Politics
#Social Issues & Advocacy
#Public Policy