President Bola Tinubu has warned that the growing attempts to undermine democratic institutions in Nigeria and across West Africa threaten the stability of all citizens, including those who “stand aside and do nothing.”
Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the 68th birthday celebration of former President Goodluck Jonathan—and the 10th anniversary of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation—Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said recent political crises in the region show the disastrous consequences of sabotaging state institutions for personal gain.
“If you look no further than around us, you will see what it means to sabotage the principles of democracy,” he said.
“The chaos that follows such subversion is never good for anyone, not even for those who stand aside and do nothing.”
Tinubu noted that political adventurists, extremists, and power-hungry actors continue to weaken governance structures across Africa, insisting that democracy can only thrive when citizens accept election outcomes—whether their preferred candidates win or lose.
“No matter how strong our sentiments, we must learn to respect the wishes of those who vote differently,” he added. “Democracy guarantees another election, another season, another chance.”
The president paid glowing tribute to Jonathan, describing him as “a statesman who preserved Nigeria’s democracy at a moment when it mattered most.”
He said Jonathan’s contributions through his foundation demonstrate that leadership does not end with public office but continues through service to national and continental stability.
“President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to channel his passion into the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation proves one truth: life begins anew when we leave the high offices for which we are elected,” Tinubu said.
He commended the foundation’s work in promoting peace, accountability, and democratic culture, especially at a time when democratic systems are under strain across Africa.
“Our democracy stands because of people like former President Goodluck Jonathan—people who believe the Nigerian state is bigger than any individual,” he said.
Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim described Jonathan as a leader who consistently demonstrated restraint while in office.
“He spent more time ensuring he restrained himself from exercising the enormous powers of his office,” Anyim said, adding that Africa continues to benefit from Jonathan’s “wisdom, good heart, and commitment to what is fair and right.”
Executive Director of the foundation, Ann Iyonu, said the organisation has spent the last decade strengthening democratic governance, promoting peacebuilding efforts, and advancing inclusive development across Africa.
“We have turned bold ideas into transformative action,” she said, highlighting election mediation, policy dialogues, conflict-resolution interventions, and anti-extremism initiatives.
She added that the foundation’s yearly democracy dialogue has become a leading African platform for interrogating emerging threats to democratic survival.
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