Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stirred national discourse with his bold proposal to establish two buildings in Abuja dedicated to displaying the pictures of individuals—past and present—who have contributed to Nigeria’s socio-political and economic woes.
Jonathan made this striking suggestion during the book launch of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in Abuja on Tuesday. He argued that such an initiative would serve as a historical lesson, ensuring that future generations recognize the destructive roles their forefathers played in shaping Nigeria’s troubled trajectory.
> “Maybe one day, we will have two big buildings in Abuja where we will put pictures of people—whether dead or alive—who have messed up this country, so that their grandchildren will know their forefathers were part of Nigeria’s problems,” Jonathan stated.
Jonathan lamented Nigerians’ tendency to celebrate the wrong values, arguing that political leaders would only begin to act responsibly when citizens decisively reject misconduct.
> “We, Nigerians, celebrate the wrong thing. And I believe one day, the country will get to the level where people will reject bad behaviour. When we reach that level, these issues will not happen again,” he remarked.
The former president also strongly opposed the deployment of military personnel during elections, asserting that it overstretches the armed forces and deviates from global democratic standards. He maintained that election security should be handled primarily by the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
> “Having been the President of this country before, when you talk about internal security, it’s an area that touches my heart. And especially when you talk about election security, again, it’s an area that touches my heart. One gets worried when it comes to Nigerian elections,” Jonathan stated.
Drawing comparisons with Botswana and Senegal, Jonathan explained how elections in those countries are managed without excessive military intervention.
“I just came back from Botswana some months back during their election. It’s a small country with a small population, so almost all the police officers were used for the election. What the military did was take over routine police duties, such as securing government offices.”
Also speaking at the event, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi stressed that the credibility of elections depends entirely on the leadership overseeing them.
He recalled how, during his second term as Governor of Anambra State under Jonathan’s administration, he ensured a transparent electoral process.
> “I have experienced a free and fair election. During my second tenure as governor under President Jonathan, I approached him and said, ‘Mr. President, I don’t want a single vote that doesn’t belong to me. Let the election be free and fair,’” Obi recounted.
He further revealed how Jonathan swiftly intervened when members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to manipulate elections in Anambra State.
> “Even when his own party people, PDP, came to my state, I called him and said, ‘Mr. President, I’m in my village. I don’t want people wandering around in my state.’ Within minutes, he called them, and they left.”
Obi argued that electoral credibility is directly linked to the integrity of those in power. He emphasized that tackling corruption among public officials would significantly improve national security.
> “If we want to talk about security, when we stop stealing as public officers, criminals will also learn from us, and even the police will do their job better. Election policing is easy when we have leaders who are not ready to manipulate the process,” he concluded.
Jonathan and Obi’s remarks have reignited discussions about Nigeria’s flawed electoral system, the culture of impunity among political elites, and the urgent need for reforms to restore public trust in governance. Whether Nigeria will ever build a ‘Hall of Shame’ for corrupt leaders remains to be seen, but the proposal has undoubtedly struck a nerve.
PIONEER NEWS 