Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that Nigeria will continue to struggle with development unless it stops choosing political leaders based on religion, ethnicity and other sectional interests.
He called for a leadership selection system that prioritises competence, merit and ability, arguing that the country cannot achieve meaningful progress when political appointments are influenced by religious and ethnic affiliations.
Jonathan made the remarks on Saturday at the Herbert Macaulay Colloquium in Lagos, organised to mark the 162nd anniversary of the birth of the Nigerian nationalist.
He criticised the extent to which religious considerations influence political opportunities, citing an instance in a southern Nigerian state where belonging to a particular Christian denomination was reportedly a requirement for aspiring governors.
According to him, such practices prevent qualified individuals from occupying leadership positions and weaken the country’s development prospects.
The former president also identified corruption, weak institutions, inconsistent government policies, inadequate infrastructure and insecurity as major challenges affecting Nigeria’s progress.
He called for reforms to strengthen the country’s democratic system, stressing the need for greater public participation, judicial independence, accountability, respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law.
On education, Jonathan advocated increased investment in functional learning and research-driven universities, describing quality education as essential to technological advancement and national development.
He cited India, Singapore and South Korea as examples of countries that have achieved significant progress through investments in education and research.
He maintained that Nigeria must support its brightest minds and develop world-class universities to compete effectively with other nations.
Paying tribute to Herbert Macaulay and other Nigerian nationalists, Jonathan said the best way to honour their contributions was to build a country that reflected the values and ideals for which they fought.
