- Jonathan emphasised that the conference outcomes remain significant and could still benefit society in the future.
- He described Adebanjo and Edwin Clark as fearless leaders who dedicated themselves to national development and justice.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has provided reasons why his government failed to act on the proposals from the 2014 national conference.
Jonathan made this statement in Lagos on Sunday while paying a visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo.
The ex-president pointed to the nation’s political climate and internal conflicts within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2015 elections as key factors for inaction.
He was accompanied on the visit by Ernest Bai Koroma, former Sierra Leonean president, and Bode George, ex-PDP deputy national chairman (south).
Looking back on the conference, Jonathan commended Adebanjo’s contributions, stating that without him, the initiative might not have succeeded.
“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.”
“I remember in the beginning when there were issues, some came to me; they said, ‘President, we want to know if there are some areas you are interested in.’”
“I say look, I can’t even advise you. You are more experienced than me. You are the leaders.”
“Supreme court justices more than 50 percent of the members were more experienced than me. It was a benevolent privilege that made me do that, setting up the Confab.”
He mentioned that respected Nigerians, uninfluenced by politics, put forward the recommendations but stressed that the timing was unsuitable for execution.
“It was not the time we could present such a document,” he said.
“Thank God for everything. 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 stated that the deaths of Adebanjo and Edwin Clark, who led the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), were great losses to the nation.
He described them as bold and intelligent figures dedicated to Nigeria’s progress and overall development.
“Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country,” he said.
“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. Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well.”
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