Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has warned politicians not to abuse the laws of an election win to evade the laws set before the 2027 general elections.
Jonathan gave this caution in Abuja during a public lecture held in honour of the 80th birthday of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi.
According to the former president, the political contest should run on rules, stressing that misconduct cannot be excused in the name of politics.
He described the process of voting as a football game where the contestants play by the set rules, adding that any deviation would have consequences for them.
The former president has stressed that labelling misconduct as politics does not justify its acceptability. He also related electoral practice to the general challenge of corruption faced by Nigeria, saying that legislation and enforcement bodies would not solve the matter alone.
Jonathan emphasised the importance of creating a culture of integrity and good morals that sees public offices as responsibilities rather than ways to enrich oneself.
As an example of his argument, Jonathan mentioned his visit to Rwanda, where local officials rejected personal gifts offered by the people who accompanied him due to their cultural values regarding the issue.
He further said that such values, once ingrained in the society, could change the behaviour of individuals much better than any legislation. Jonathan urged for effective institutions and accountability, stating that the judiciary and other bodies should help enforce ethical practices in public service.
This event was entitled “Prioritising Ethical Conduct and Anti-Corruption Measures in Governance in Nigeria” and was one of the events organised to celebrate Agabi. Simon Kolawole, founder and CEO of The Cable, gave a public lecture.
