Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned that any move to establish a one-party system in Nigeria would choke the nation’s political space and could ultimately trigger chaos and disorder.
He sounded this warning on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a speech at the memorial lecture and tribute session held in honour of the late South-South leader and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark.
Jonathan acknowledged that while a one-party system might not inherently be harmful, as demonstrated by Julius Nyerere’s leadership in Tanzania, it must emerge through legitimate processes rather than through political manipulation.
“A one-party state may not be an evil thing as Julius Nyerere of Tanzania used it to unite his country because they have many tribes,” he noted.
“However, it was procedural in Tanzania, and not through manipulation.”
He stressed that if Nigeria must consider transitioning to a one-party system, it must be done methodically and deliberately.
“If a one-party state has become desirable for the country, the process must be thorough and systemic, not by accident or political manipulations,” Jonathan said.
His remarks come in the wake of widespread defections from opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking concerns about political imbalance.
Reflecting on the legacy of the late Chief Clark, Jonathan described him as a father figure and a man of unmatched intellect and courage.
“There is no need to look for any replacement for the late Ijaw leader because that would not be achievable,” he said.
“He was a unique personality, with a very sharp memory that no one can beat.”
Jonathan added, “Clark was courageous and ready to take on anybody at any time.”
