Nigeria Would Be Heading For Crisis If –Goodluck Jonathan

 Former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has warned against sidelining the opposition in the current dispensation, and how Nigeria would be heading for crisis.

That is, if she goes the way of a one party state.

Speaking at a memorial lecture held in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, in Abuja on Wednesday, he particularly took exception to what many see as the country covertly gravitating to a one party state, stating:

“If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are getting into.

“But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for a crisis,” he said

Illustrating with former president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, the former President said the difference was that the country planned for it properly, and were able to withstand its associated shocks.

“Yes, a one-party state may not be evil after all, because Julius Nyerere of Tanzania used a one-party state to stabilise his country in the early days of independence.

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“He felt that the country, just like Nigeria, had too many tribes and tongues, and two principal religions—Christianity and Islam. If we allow multiple parties, some may follow religious lines, others tribal, and unity will be difficult. But it was properly planned; it was not by accident.

“If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are getting into. But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for a crisis,” he said

Dr Goodluck Jonathan who remains a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also made a case for the sustenance of the ideals of the elder statement, to immortalise him.