Sometimes, we think it’s because of ‘yahoo’ boys or 419. Not only them, yes, they are part of the problem. But whatever happens in the country, decisions that are taken by the executive arm of government, decisions that are taken by the parliament and judicial decisions affect everybody – Jonathan
In response to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria as shed light on the reasons why the Nigerian passport is not accorded the respect it deserves at international airports, as well as the reasons why Nigerians are not given the kind of care they are expected to receive.
Regardless of what occurs in the nation, Jonathan stated that decisions made by the executive arms of government, decisions made by the parliament, as well as the decisions made by the judiciary all have an impact on the country.
Jonathan said, “As a former President and also from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the Governor of Rivers State came up, I think people called on me, President Jonathan and ex-President Obasanjo to say something.
“People expected us to say something about what is happening. Of course, people don’t even know that traditionally all over the world, former presidents hardly make statements about what the current presidents are doing because of the tension it could create in the country.
“In most cases, look at America, look at everywhere. So, for former presidents to make statements …and of course, what is happening in Nigeria today regarding the situation in Rivers State is like an Indian proverb that says that if somebody is sleeping, really sleeping, you can easily wake up that person.
“But if that person is pretending to sleep, you find it difficult to wake up that person. The key actors in Nigeria, from the executive to the legislature, judiciary and the Senate and others are here.
“And the judiciary, they know the correct thing to do. But they are refusing to do it.
“They are pretending to sleep and waking such a person is extremely difficult because the person knows the right thing, a clear abuse of office and clear abuse of power cutting across from the three arms of government, from the executive to the parliament and the judiciary.
“And I always plead with our people that whatever we do affects everybody and sometimes we do things and we think that it doesn’t affect us.
“Why is it that our passport is not valued that much? Why is it that Nigerians are not given the kind of treatment we’re supposed to receive at international airports?
“Sometimes, we think it’s because of ‘yahoo’ boys or 419. Not only them, yes, they are part of the problem. But whatever happens in the country, decisions that are taken by the executive arm of government, decisions that are taken by the parliament and judicial decisions affect everybody.
“For example, no businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised.
“No man brings his money to invest in that economy because we are taking a big risk. So whatever we do affects everybody and if we want to build a nation where children are grandchildren will live, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right.
“Whether you are holding an executive office as a president, a minister, or a governor, or a civil servant, an executive, whether you are holding an office in the parliament, Senate, or House of Representatives, whether you are a judicial officer at the High Courts or appellate courts, we must strive to do what is right. If we want to build a nation that our children would be proud of.
“As we engage in these discussions, let us remember that promoting social change is not a one-time event, but a continuous process.
“It requires our sustained commitment, collective action, and unwavering dedication to the values that promote good governance.
“Let us also recognise that social change is a shared responsibility, one that requires the active participation and engagement of all stakeholders including civil society, the private sector and governments.”
when the Boko Haram insurgency was at its peak in May 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa without replacing governors.
Jonathan decided to restrict the declaration of emergency to local government districts rather than the entire states in order to concentrate security forces there and contain the situation.
Not a single local government chairman or governor was removed or suspended by him.