Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern about the potential dangers of Nigeria becoming a one-party state.
He made the statement in Abuja on Wednesday while paying tribute to the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, during a memorial lecture and day of tribute.
Clark, an Ijaw leader and politician, passed away in February at the age of 97.
Jonathan cautioned that any attempt to establish a one-party state through political maneuvering to satisfy personal ambitions could have serious consequences for the country.
He emphasized, however, that if Nigeria were to adopt a one-party system, it should be a well-thought-out decision, developed by experts with clear intentions about its impact.
“If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are going in for,” Jonathan said.
“But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for crisis,” he added.
Jonathan’s warning comes amid concerns raised by some Nigerians who fear the country is drifting toward a one-party state due to the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
These defections have been viewed as weakening opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Additionally, some PDP governors, such as Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, are believed to be supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Jonathan acknowledged that while some countries, like Tanzania under Julius Nyerere, have successfully used one-party systems to stabilize their nations, Nigeria’s diverse ethnic, religious, and political landscape requires a more inclusive 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 stabilize 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.”
During the tribute, Jonathan also urged Clark’s family to establish an annual memorial lecture to continue promoting his ideas of a united, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.
In response to the ongoing defections, some political analysts and figures have expressed concerns that the shift of key politicians, such as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 elections), could hinder the coalition led by Atiku and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
On Tuesday, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, after meeting with President Tinubu, reassured the public that the APC did not intend for Nigeria to become a one-party state.
He emphasized that the party’s goal was to remain dominant, capable of winning elections.
He further described the influx of defections into the APC as a reflection of the party’s strong performance and the President’s ongoing reforms, asserting, “We saw the first reforms. I don’t believe, by the slightest of imagination, that we are going to be a one-party state.”
The Star
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