Goodluck Jonathan reveals why 2014 national conference recommendations were not implemented

Former President Goodluck Jonathan recently explained why his administration didn’t put the 2014 National Conference recommendations into action.

Speaking during a visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos on Sunday, Jonathan pointed to the difficult political situation in Nigeria and problems within his own political party before the 2015 elections as the main reasons.

Jonathan was joined on his visit by Ernest Bai Koroma, former president of Sierra Leone, and Bode George, who previously served as the PDP deputy national chairman for the south.

Looking back on the conference, Jonathan praised Adebanjo’s important role. “I didn’t know that the issue of the national conference would even come on board,” he said. “Without people like him and other leaders there, it wouldn’t have taken place because they thought initially I wanted to manipulate the system.”

Read Also: Fubara orders LG chairmen to hand over on Monday

The former president shared that some conference members had approached him for guidance, but he declined to influence their work. “I say look, I can’t even advise you. You are more experienced than me. You are the leaders,” Jonathan recalled telling them. He noted that over half of the members were Supreme Court justices with more experience than himself.

Although the recommendations came from respected Nigerians who weren’t politically influenced, Jonathan admitted the timing wasn’t right for implementation. “It was not the time we could present such a document,” he explained. However, he remains hopeful: “We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything. We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”

Jonathan also spoke about the significant loss Nigeria has suffered with the deaths of both Adebanjo and Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum. He described them as brave and wise leaders who were committed to developing the country.

“Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country,” Jonathan stated about Adebanjo. “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.”