Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has said that African nations must create economic prosperity for the people in order to stop the rising spate of coups in the continent.
Jonathan gave the advice in Yanagoa, Bayelsa State while speaking at the 2023 Democracy Dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) with the theme: “Breaking New Grounds In The Democracy Development Nexus in Africa”
The former President said that for Africa to preserve the rule of law and freedom it must “rejig democracy” as we know it to carter for its teeming population.
Jonathan expressed concern that over the last few years, many democracies in Africa have been bedeviled by crises mostly occasioned by unemployment and escalating poverty.
He said:
”Leadership is supposed to work to ensure that democracy is translated to economic well-being,” he said, explaining that democracy should be able to encourage development.
”Recently, we have experienced jubilations heralding the overthrow of civilian administrations in Africa, people jubilating military overthrowing civil administrations. Such victory songs will not last long, but it shows that Africa needs to rejig her democracy.
“In recent years, democracy in the continent has caused a serious crisis. The challenges of poverty and unemployment have created a crisis of trust in the hearts of our citizens.
“As leaders, we have the responsibility to ensure that democracy endures by adhering to the rules of law, respecting the rights of the people, strengthening public institutions, ensuring that we implement policies that will impact positively on the lives of our people.”
