Goodluck Jonathan calls for legal respect as a solution to African challenges

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has emphasized the importance of respecting laws as a means of addressing various challenges in Africa, including military coups, economic hardships, and insecurity.

During his remarks at the Second Annual Retreat of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Special Envoys, High Representatives organized by International IDEA in Abuja, Mr. Jonathan stressed the need for inclusivity and good governance to promote democracy and development in Africa.

He stated, “I believe that we need to elect leaders who will respect their laws. If our leaders – presidents, prime ministers, the parliament, and the judiciary – would respect our laws, I believe 70 per cent of our problems would be solved.”

Mr. Jonathan pointed out the rising military coups in Africa, especially in West Africa, and highlighted the importance of convincing people that civilian administrations are better than military governments through inclusivity and good governance.

“In Africa, democracy is currently facing many challenges, including the resurgence of coup d’état, citizen disenchantment, rising insecurity, and tough economic situations for which special panels like this one are expected to interrogate and proffer solutions,” he said.

He emphasized the strong connection between democracy and development and called for the deepening of democracy, making it more inclusive, and strengthening governance institutions to build a stable and prosperous society.

Mr. Jonathan also noted that inclusivity is a vital aspect of improving the convergence principle outlined in the ECOWAS Protocol on democracy and good governance.

He encouraged the participants in the two-day high-level retreat to develop concrete and actionable recommendations to address these complex situations in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

Credit: NAN