Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian politicians to prioritise national interest over party loyalty and sectional considerations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jonathan said Nigeria was greater than any political party or individual, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He spoke at the fifth National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in Abuja, where he called for national unity, stronger democratic institutions and improved governance.
Represented by former Adamawa State Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari, Jonathan warned that ethnic, religious and regional divisions remained major obstacles to Nigeria’s political development.
He urged political leaders to promote competence, integrity and inclusion while ensuring that their decisions reflected the interests of Nigerians rather than personal or party ambitions.
“One major obstacle to Nigeria’s political development is division along ethnic, religious and regional lines. We must rise above these differences and promote politics founded on competence, Integrity, inclusion and national interest,” he said.
“Nigeria must always be greater than any political party, individual or sectional interest.”
The former president also stressed that political office was temporary, but decisions taken by those in power could affect future generations.
He called on former deputy governors to use their experience to mentor younger politicians, strengthen democratic institutions and encourage cordial relationships between serving governors and their deputies.
Jonathan said effective governance required consultation, teamwork and strong institutions, rather than dependence on individuals.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the forum, Dr Chris Alozie Akomas, criticised leaders who exercised power without accountability, saying national development required integrity, empathy and responsible leadership.
Akomas also expressed concern over the widening gap between political leaders and citizens, noting that government policies and programmes would have limited impact if they failed to address the everyday challenges facing Nigerians.
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who also spoke at the conference, criticised politicians who defected from one party to another for personal interests rather than shared political principles.
Ganduje further warned that disputes between outgoing and incoming governors often led to the abandonment of projects and programmes, undermining continuity in governance.
Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa also called for stronger accountability and inclusion, saying rebuilding public trust was essential to sustainable development.
