Former President Goodluck Jonathan recently explained why his administration did not implement the recommendations from the 2014 National Conference. During a visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, in Lagos on Sunday, Jonathan cited Nigeria’s complex political climate and internal challenges within his party ahead of the 2015 elections as the primary reasons.
Jonathan was accompanied by Ernest Bai Koroma, former president of Sierra Leone, and Bode George, former deputy national chairman of the PDP for the South. Reflecting on the national conference, Jonathan praised Adebanjo for his crucial role in its success. He admitted that he had not initially anticipated the conference taking place, noting that without leaders like Adebanjo, it might not have happened, as some had suspected he intended to manipulate the process.
Jonathan shared that while some conference members sought his guidance, he refrained from influencing their work. He recalled telling them, “I can’t advise you. You are more experienced than I am. You are the leaders.” He pointed out that more than half of the members were Supreme Court justices with far greater experience than he had.
Although the recommendations came from respected individuals free from political influence, Jonathan acknowledged that the timing was not right for their implementation. “It was not the time we could present such a document,” he explained. However, he remains hopeful that a future government will review the recommendations and take action, as he believes they remain relevant to Nigeria’s progress.
Jonathan also spoke about the significant loss of both Adebanjo and Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum. He described them as courageous and wise leaders dedicated to the nation’s development. “Our dear leader was not just the leader of Afenifere; he was a leader of this country,” Jonathan said about Adebanjo. “He was a man of great wisdom, courage, and a strong commitment to truth and justice. No nation can thrive without truth and justice.”
