Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned that it would be perilous for Nigeria to devolve into a one-party state.
Jonathan gave the warning in Abuja on Wednesday while paying tribute to the late elder statesman Edwin Clark at a memorial lecture and day of tribute. Clark, an Ijaw leader and politician, passed away in February at the age of 97.
Jonathan highlighted the dangers of any endeavour to establish a one-party state through political manoeuvring aimed solely at fulfilling personal ambitions, stating that such actions would be harmful to the nation.
He remarked, “If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are going in for. But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for crisis.”
His warning comes in light of concerns expressed by some Nigerians regarding the potential drift towards a one-party state, particularly in view of the recent wave of defections from various opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
These defections have been seen as further weakening the opposition, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In addition to the defections, some PDP governors, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, are also believed to be backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Jonathan acknowledged that some countries have successfully operated one-party systems under specific historical and social conditions. He warned, however, that Nigeria’s intricate ethnic, religious, and political landscape necessitates a more inclusive and thoughtfully constructed political framework.
He stated, “Yes, one-party states—countries have managed them. Yes, a one-party state may not be evil after all, because Julius Nyerere of Tanzania used a one-party state to stabilise his country in the early days of independence. He felt that the country, just like Nigeria, had too many tribes and tongues, and two principled religions—Christianity and Islam. If we allow multiple parties, some may follow religious lines, others tribal, and unity will be difficult. But it was properly planned; it was not by accident.”
Furthermore, Jonathan called upon Clark’s family to establish an annual memorial lecture in his honour to continue promoting his ideas and ideals, which, according to him, centre on a united, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.
Some politicians and analysts have suggested that the migration of prominent politicians to the APC, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections, could hinder the coalition being led by Atiku and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
On Tuesday, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule conveyed to State House reporters after a meeting with President Tinubu that the APC does not desire Nigeria to become a one-party state. Sule emphasised that the APC’s interest is solely in being the dominant party in Nigeria, capable of winning elections.
He described the mass defections into the APC as “a reflection of the performance of our party and the performance of Mr. President. Mr. President is carrying out a lot of reforms. We saw the first reforms. I don’t believe, by the slightest of imagination, that we are going to be a one-party state.”
