Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned that no investor will commit resources to a country where the judiciary is weakened by political influence and compromised by government interference.
Jonathan gave the warning on Wednesday while speaking at the Democracy Dialogue of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, stressing that judicial independence is essential for building a stable and trustworthy business environment.
“It affects everybody. For example, no businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where a government functionary can dictate to judges what judgment they will give. No man brings his money to invest in that economy because they are taking a big risk,” he said.
The former president added that Nigeria’s future depends on leaders who uphold justice and fairness irrespective of personal or political interests.
“If we must build a nation for our children and grandchildren, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto praised Jonathan’s concession of defeat in 2015 as a turning point for Nigeria’s democracy. He, however, cautioned the former president to be wary of political actors seeking to exploit his reputation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Quoting former Defence Minister General Theophilus Danjuma, Kukah said: “The voice of the devil is not so far from the voice of God. Listen carefully to those who want to use you as an instrument for the elongation of their interests, and not your interests or the interests of Nigeria.”