TheCable

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to protect the country’s democracy from derailing towards dictatorship.

Jonathan spoke at the 70th birthday of Mathew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria is a work in progress and asked citizens not to lower their guard and allow democracy to crumble.

He advised leaders to accommodate different views, adding that democracy is not about winning elections alone.

“Obviously many people, especially our youths, are becoming increasingly disillusioned about our politics and democracy,” Jonathan said.

“However, we must remain on the democratic path because it is the only practical way of effectively managing our diversity, developing sustainably, and recording progress as a nation.

“The task before all of us is not to lower our guards lest the democracy we cherish today succumbs to threats and recedes into fascism tomorrow because there are signs.

“Looking at the states and so on, we are derailing towards quasi-fascist form of government, but democracy is not only about winning elections alone, it is about accommodation. We, as leaders at the centre and at the state levels, especially at this time when elections are coming, must accommodate different views.

“Towards this goal, we are again faced with a good opportunity of choosing our leaders as the nation prepares to go to the polls next year. Let us choose those that will take us to the desired destination and the promised land.”

He also asked Nigerians not to give up hope and not to focus on the negatives, even when the country we want is not where it should be.

“Nigeria may not be where we want it to and should be, but we should not give up or lose hope by focusing on only the negative,” he added.

“Judging from where we are coming from since independence in 1960, we may have been moving slowly in our journey of nationhood, but it is a journey of progress, all the same.”