Immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the nation’s leaders to toe the path of peace ahead of the general election.
Jonathan spoke at a one-day conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Abuja and themed “Peaceful elections and national development.”
He noted that political leaders must take care not to allow personal ambition to occupy political posts set the nation ablaze, further noting that nobody could successfully lead a nation that has been set on fire.
The ex-president urged the political elite to learn from the past and realise that the attention of the world is focused on Nigeria, adding that all efforts must be made to ensure the elections are devoid of rancour.
He stressed that Nigeria would be setting a good example for its African counterparts by ensuring that the polls are credible, free and fair, disclosing that his foundation would be exploring ways to encourage African leaders to put the interest of their nations above personal gain.
Furthermore, he cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to be professional in the discharge of their duties in order to ensure a hitch-free electoral process.
Jonathan said, “For democracy to endure and be productive on the continent, African politicians and other stakeholders must realise that true heroes of leadership are not those whose desperation to impose their will endangers society, but those who have the humility to subjugate their personal ambitions to the collective interest of their nations.
“Our political leaders must realize that the greatest and most enduring legacy to leave behind is that of peace and development.
“We are convinced that anyone, either in government or outside government, who truly loves Nigeria, will not want to play the role of the villain by lending his support to any action that instigates crisis.
“There is no gainsaying that when politicians resort to desperate measures in the bid to occupy important political positions, they run the risk of plunging their countries into serious crises that often lead to loss of lives, degradation of values as well as destruction of private and public assets.”