Jonathan Blasts Ineffective Leaders: “Only The Ballot Box Can Flush Them Out

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that leaders who fail to deliver on their promises should be removed from office through the ballot if credible elections are held.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, Jonathan warned that electoral manipulation remains one of the greatest threats to democracy in Africa. He cautioned that unless stakeholders unite to reform governance, the continent risks sliding into authoritarianism.

In a statement released on Saturday by the Foundation’s Communications Officer, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Jonathan said democracy in Africa is under strain. He noted that where democratic systems fail to meet citizens’ expectations, disillusionment and desperation often create space for authoritarian rule.

Jonathan stressed: “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 in power even when the citizens no longer want them.”

He further explained that Africans yearn for more than elections—they seek freedoms, equity, dignity, quality education, jobs, healthcare, and security. According to him, when leaders fail to meet these basic needs, trust in democracy begins to erode.

On youth participation, Jonathan described the growing involvement of young people in politics as encouraging, but emphasized that they still need the guidance and wisdom of the older generation to thrive.

Mahama, Obasanjo, Others Call for Urgent Reforms

Other leaders at the dialogue echoed Jonathan’s concerns, stressing the need for a reset in Africa’s governance model.

Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama warned that democracy cannot survive without accountability. He said citizens are weary of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities, and called for stronger institutions, media freedom, and civic participation.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the event, also declared that Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and requires urgent reforms.

The event was attended by high-level policymakers and thought leaders, including the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese. Participants unanimously agreed that democracy in Africa must transcend periodic elections to embody accountability, service, discipline, and inclusiveness in governance.

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