Nigeria’s Development Doomed Until Primitive Leadership Selection Ends — Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that Nigeria will continue to struggle with development unless the country abandons what he described as primitive methods of selecting political leaders based on religion, ethnicity, language and other narrow considerations.

Jonathan made the remarks on Saturday, November 14, 2026, while chairing the Herbert Macaulay Memorial Colloquium in Lagos, organised to mark the 162nd anniversary of the birth of the Nigerian nationalist.

He argued that political recruitment should prioritise competence, merit and capacity rather than religious or ethnic affiliations, noting that such considerations could prevent qualified individuals from emerging as leaders.

The former president said Nigeria could not make meaningful progress if citizens continued to determine political leadership through divisive identity-based considerations.

“We are still suffering from political leaders being recruited based on religion, language and all kinds of things. Sometimes it is even beyond Muslim or Christian,” he said.

Jonathan cited an example of a state in southern Nigeria where, according to him, political leadership opportunities were influenced by religious denomination.

“That is the kind of thing we do. So no matter how good you are, until we move away from these primitive ways of recruiting political leaders, this country cannot go,” he added.

The former president also identified weak institutions, corruption, policy inconsistency, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and overdependence on raw material exports as major obstacles to national development.

He called for comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s democratic system, which he described as opaque and amorphous, insisting that it must guarantee popular participation, the rule of law, respect for human rights, judicial independence, accountability, pluralism and a vibrant civil society.

Jonathan further stressed the importance of functional education and research-driven universities, arguing that Nigeria must invest in knowledge production, innovation and technological advancement to compete globally.

Citing India, Singapore and South Korea, he noted that these countries had made significant progress in technology, industrialisation and human development through deliberate investments in education and strong institutions.

He urged Nigeria to establish a clear national development agenda with measurable targets, timelines and defined responsibilities, particularly as the country approaches its centenary of independence in 2060.

The colloquium, organised by the Macaulay Heritage Foundation, attracted political leaders, academics, professionals and other stakeholders.

Jonathan said the best way to honour Herbert Macaulay and other founding nationalists was to build a country that reflected their aspirations for justice, equal opportunities, economic prosperity and national unity.