Goodluck Jonathan speaks on Okowa’s defection to APC
Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has spoken on the defection of prominent political figures from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
The former Nigerian president while speaking in Abuja on 6th of May, 2025 at the memorial lecture and tribute in honour of late Niger Delta elder, chief Edwin Clark, accused the current Nigerian leadership of strangulating opposition parties and manipulating politicians in opposition parties through state power to compel them to join the APC.
Jonathan warned that such practice is inimical to democracy and national cohesion.
He further warned the current Nigerian leadership against their manipulation tact by which they intend to turn Nigeria into a one party state; Jonathan declared that should the Tinubu’s administration fail to relent in its quest to manipulate opposition parties’ politicians into joining his political party that such will result in anarchy and confusion.
Jonathan also suggested that a one party state is not undemocratic as former president of Tanzania through a one party structure in Tanzania, united the Tanzanian people across ethnicities. Hence, he appeals to the Nigeria’s leadership to adopt a systematic and constitutional approach in their quest to turn Nigeria into a one party state rather than doing so through manipulation.
Speaking on the legacy of the late South-South leader, Jonathan described chief Edwin Clark as his father, a man of courage and an irreplaceable leader in the South-South region. He enjoined Nigerian leaders to embrace the type of courage and boldness of the late chief.
At the same gathering, Peter Obi also decried Nigeria’s failing democracy criticizing Tinubu’s administration’s use of state power to haunt disgruntled politicians and citizens.
Obi while speaking, also lamented over the declining standard of living in the country, noting that the economy is worse than Jonathan’s tenure when Nigerians massively protested against pump price increase from N87 to N120. He also pointed out that the current Naira to Dollar exchange rate has not triggered those who protested against the Jonathan’s administration when 1 dollar was 180 naira. The vociferous presidential aspirant asked whether those who led protests against Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have all died.
