Jonathan: Why I didn’t implement 2014 confab recommendations

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed why his administration failed to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.

Jonathan made this known during a condolence visit to the family of late Afenifere Leader, Ayo Adebanjo, in Lagos on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Jonathan said the political situation in Nigeria at the time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations.

Jonathan, who was accompanied by Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, former PDP Deputy National Chairman Olabode George, and other political stalwarts, described Adebanjo as a Nigerian leader and not just an Afenifere leader.

He said: “Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country.

“He was a man with enormous wisdom, courage and willingness to do the right thing for this country.

“He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.

“Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well.”

Jonathan said the 2014 National Conference would not have come up without the contributions of people such as the late Adebanjo.

He said a number of people had kept asking why he did not implement the recommendations of the conference.

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The former president stated that most Nigerians do not know that there was a lot of political turbulence in the country at that period.

He said a key member of the legislature, who was in his party, mobilised against him and moved to another party.

Jonathan added that some persons were ready to bring his administration down at that time.

Jonathan said: “It was not the time we could present such a document.

“Thank God for everything. We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything.”

The former president said the recommendations came from credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced, saying: “We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”

Speaking, the son of the deceased, Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, said: “Baba was very grateful to you (Jonathan) for your courage to constitute the 2014 National Conference and for him being part of it.

“He always celebrated you (Jonathan) for being the one who had the courage and wisdom to put that together.

“He was also very happy when you said the blood of a single Nigerian was not worth your ambition.

“All those things resonated with Baba. I want to welcome you for coming to condole with us.”

The Star