Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the current spate of coups across the African continent shows that democracy needs to be ”rejigged” and put in a proper direction.
Jonathan made this known during a Democracy Dialogue 2023 organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) with the theme: “Breaking New Grounds In The Democracy Development Nexus in Africa” in Yenagoa.
The former Nigerian leader expressed worry that in recent years, democracy in the African continent has caused serious crises, including the challenges of poverty and unemployment, which he said had created a crisis of trust in the hearts of the citizens.
”Leadership is supposed to work to ensure that democracy is translated to economic well-being,” he said, explaining that democracy should be able to encourage development.
”Recently, we have experienced jubilations heralding the overthrow of civilian administrations in Africa, people jubilating military overthrowing civil administrations. Such victory songs will not last long, but it shows that Africa needs to rejig her democracy.
“In recent years, democracy in the continent has caused a serious crisis. The challenges of poverty and unemployment have created a crisis of trust in the hearts of our citizens.
“As leaders, we have the responsibility to ensure that democracy endures by adhering to the rules of law, respecting the rights of the people, strengthening public institutions, ensuring that we implement policies that will impact positively on the lives of our people,” he said.
