Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over what he described as the growing decadence in some government institutions, as well as a rising tendency to dismiss public criticism by telling aggrieved citizens to seek redress in court.
Speaking at a recent public event, Jonathan said the attitude reflects deeper issues within governance and accountability systems.
He noted that in many cases, citizens who challenge perceived wrongdoing are simply told to “go to court,” a response he suggested may not always guarantee justice.
According to him, there is a popular East African saying that captures the concern.
“We see government institutions doing the wrong thing and telling people to go to court. There is this saying in East Africa that if a thief tells you to go to court, he knows that his brother is the judge,” he said.
The former president’s remarks have since sparked discussion on governance, institutional integrity, and access to justice in Nigeria.