Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned politicians against using “politics” as an excuse for misconduct during election campaigns.
Jonathan spoke on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at a public lecture held to mark the 80th birthday of Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney-General of the Federation.
The former president said electoral contests must be conducted within established rules, stressing that the pursuit of victory does not justify wrongdoing.
“In politics it’s a disaster. People do stupid things, also even criminal things. And they will tell you it is politics. It is not politics. Politics has rules,” he said.
Jonathan compared politics to a football match, where participants are expected to follow established rules and face legal consequences when those rules are breached.
“Politics is like a soccer match. You play according to the rules and that’s why the courts start to mediate if you go against the rules. Otherwise you can do anything and win an election and walk away.”
Jonathan Calls for Stronger Anti-Corruption Culture
Jonathan said Nigeria’s fight against corruption must go beyond passing laws and strengthening enforcement agencies.
He argued that lasting progress would require a culture that values ethical conduct, treats public office as a trust and rejects wrongdoing.
“The challenge before Nigeria is not simply to make laws against corruption. It’s to build a culture in which ethical conduct becomes a norm, where public office is treated as a trust, and where institutions are strong enough to uphold accountability,” he said.
The former president also called for a social environment that discourages misconduct rather than celebrating people accused of wrongdoing because of their wealth or influence.
Jonathan Recalls Rwanda Experience
Jonathan recalled an experience in Rwanda, where he said social norms discouraged public officials from accepting gifts that could be considered inappropriate.
He said the experience showed how deeply rooted social values can influence public conduct beyond what formal laws prescribe.
Jonathan also criticised the practice of giving prominent positions and recognition to people suspected of wrongdoing because of their wealth.
He said the judiciary and other institutions have a role to play in enforcing electoral rules and holding offenders accountable, but stressed that the fight against corruption should not be left solely to government agencies.
“All of us Nigerians have the major role to play if we want to suppress corruption, not just the bodies established by law to discipline and punish those who do it,” he said.
Leaders Must Set the Right Example
Jonathan called for greater discipline among political leaders, saying those in positions of authority must demonstrate the standards they expect from citizens.
“It does not take a lifetime to deal with this kind of issue. But maximum discipline by the leaders. Because if the leaders are not disciplined, the followers are not disciplined,” he said.
The former president urged Nigerians not to lose hope over the country’s challenges, saying difficult periods can be overcome when citizens and leaders accept collective responsibility for building a better society.
