Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said leaders who fail to deliver on their promises should be voted out of office if credible elections are conducted.
Naijaonpoint reports that he warned that electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, stressing that unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform governance, democracy on the continent risks collapse.
Jonathan spoke at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue held in Accra, Ghana.
In a statement on Saturday, Communications Officer at the Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, quoted Jonathan as saying that where democracy fails to meet expectations, desperation often paves the way for authoritarianism.
Jonathan said, “Democracy in Africa is going through a period of strain and risks collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.”
The former President noted that Africans want more than elections; they desire freedoms, equity, and dignity.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned,” he said.
Jonathan also spoke on youth participation in politics, describing it as encouraging but insisting that younger leaders require the guidance and wisdom of the older generation to succeed.
Mahama, Obasanjo, Others Call For Reset
Other African leaders at the dialogue also called for urgent reforms to restore credibility and accountability to governance.
Former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, warned that democracy would not survive unless Africans worked actively to protect it.
He said, “Democracy will not survive if we don’t work for it. We need a reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability. Anybody who wants to serve must be accountable to the people. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities.
“To renew democracy, we must strengthen institutions, deliver development, and educate our citizens. We must protect the media and civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system. Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it.”
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the event, also declared that Africa’s current democratic practice was unsustainable and must be urgently reformed.
The Democracy Dialogue was attended by top African policymakers and thought leaders, including President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese; and other political figures.
Participants unanimously stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond periodic elections to embrace accountability, service, discipline, and inclusiveness in governance.
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