Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that Nigeria will not move forward until it stops choosing its leaders based on tribe, religion, language and other narrow sentiments.
Jonathan gave the warning on Saturday at the Herbert Macaulay Colloquium in Lagos, organised to commemorate the 162nd anniversary of the birth of the renowned nationalist and political pioneer.
The former president described Nigeria’s current approach to leadership selection as primitive, arguing that the country cannot achieve meaningful development if ethnic and religious sentiments continue to take precedence over competence and merit.
His comments come as political parties and Nigerians gradually begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Jonathan urged citizens to prioritise the leadership qualities, experience and capacity of political candidates rather than allowing religious affiliations, ethnic backgrounds or linguistic differences to influence their voting decisions.
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He identified corruption, insecurity, weak institutions, inadequate infrastructure and poor educational standards as some of the major challenges undermining Nigeria’s development.
According to him, addressing these problems requires not only effective governance but also a fundamental change in the mindset of Nigerians regarding the kind of individuals they elect into public office.
The former president further called on Nigerians, particularly young people, to draw inspiration from Herbert Macaulay’s legacy of nationalism, unity and commitment to building a country beyond ethnic and religious divisions.
He maintained that Macaulay’s ideals should serve as a reminder that national interest, competence and unity must take precedence over narrow sentiments in the quest for a better Nigeria.