Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has warned politicians and their parties to avoid violence ahead of the country’s general elections in 2023, saying Nigeria must exist before the next President can be elected.
He stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s 2022 peace conference.
The former Nigerian leader urged those running for office to protect Africa’s most populous country from destruction.
According to him, those interested in becoming president, governors, and legislators have roles to play in preserving the nation’s democracy.
“We must have a state before you talk about having a President or a governor. If you destroy the country, then where do we need a President?” he said.
“Anybody who is interested in leadership at the level of a president, governor, senator, etc, you have the biggest stake to protect the nation.
“Both those who want to be President, governors and their supporters should first know that we need to have a nation before whoever you are supporting can emerge (into leadership position).”
Jonathan commended Nigerian youths for picking up interest in the 2023 general elections, advising them to guard against hate speech.
He identified fake news, hate speech and propaganda as the biggest threat to Nigerian democracy, calling on the citizens not to indulge in it.
The peace conference titled, “The Role of Elections in a Multi-Ethnic Context,” drew prominent personalities to the NAF Conference Centre.
Participants at the conference seek to examine the trends and threats to a peaceful election and build a multi-stakeholder consensus toward a peaceful general election.
In attendance is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjkpo, former Governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yuguda, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese, among others.