Jonathan tells politicians Nigeria matters more than any party

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Nigerian politicians to rank the country's interests above loyalty to their parties, warning that splits along ethnic, religious and regional lines remain a drag on the country's politics.

He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the fifth National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria. Jonathan was represented at the event by Bala Ngilari, a former deputy governor of Adamawa State.

According to him, politics should be built on competence, integrity and inclusion rather than on where a politician comes from or which faith he practises. He said Nigeria must always count for more than any party, any single person or any group pushing its own agenda.

Jonathan, who was deputy governor and then governor of Bayelsa before serving as Vice President and President, said his time in office taught him patience, loyalty, consultation and teamwork. Governance, he said, is not about one person but about strong institutions and serving the people.

He urged the former deputy governors to keep warm ties with the governors currently in office, to guide younger politicians and to speak out against practices that divide the country. Political office, he reminded them, is temporary, but decisions taken in office can shape the lives of generations.

He also said he is hopeful about Nigeria's future because of the resilience and creativity of its people, especially the young, but stressed that they need room to work, build and prosper.

Ganduje, Okowa weigh in

Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano State governor and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), traced Nigeria's integration troubles to its colonial past. He said some nationalist leaders later took ethnic positions, and parties after independence were largely organised along ethnic lines. Nigerians, he said, should treat their diversity as a strength.

Ganduje also raised concerns about how strong democratic institutions are, including the judiciary, and asked how real judicial reform can be achieved. He criticised the lack of continuity between administrations, noting that disagreements between outgoing and incoming governors often lead to projects being dropped or reversed, sometimes even when both belong to the same party. He called for deputy governors to be recognised for their contribution to governance rather than seen only as stand-ins for governors.

Former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the gap between government policies and what citizens experience daily has weakened public trust. Nation-building, he argued, needs a social contract built on accountability, inclusion and shared responsibility, and many Nigerians feel shut out because their hopes are not being met.

The conference comes as attention turns towards the 2027 general elections, with parties and politicians positioning themselves. What happens next will depend on whether the unity talk at such gatherings translates into how parties pick candidates and run campaigns.