Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a broad review of Nigeria's democratic structures, political recruitment processes and public institutions, warning that the country owes a debt to the nationalists whose struggles secured its independence. Speaking at a colloquium at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, he said the founding nationalists imagined a sovereign, united and prosperous country where every citizen would enjoy equal rights, dignity and opportunity.

The colloquium, themed "Nationalism and Nation Building," marked the 162nd birth anniversary of Herbert Macaulay. Jonathan said independence was meant to determine Nigerians' own destiny, control their resources and deploy them for national development, and open the door to economic emancipation, industrialisation, quality education, accessible healthcare and social justice. He then asked whether the progress envisioned had been made and whether Nigerians were satisfied with where the country stands today.S1S2

While acknowledging advances in some areas, Jonathan said genuine patriotism requires honesty about failures. He listed leadership failures, weak institutions, corruption, policy inconsistency, poor infrastructure, insecurity and overdependence on raw material exports as the core obstacles. "Winning independence was a historic achievement; building a prosperous and united nation remains an ongoing responsibility," he said.S1

Also speaking at the event, Bode George, chairman of the Herbert Macaulay Colloquium Family Committee, described Macaulay as a singular gift to Nigeria and urged current politicians to place public service above personal gain. George appealed to President Bola Tinubu to return the site of Macaulay's former home on Marina to the family so they could establish a permanent memorial hall in his honour.S1