Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigeria’s legal community to play a more active role in safeguarding democratic institutions, arguing that the country’s future depends on the strength of its judiciary, the independence of its institutions and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association’s 2026 Law Week in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan told lawyers and judicial officers that they occupy a pivotal position in shaping the nation’s trajectory at a time when governance, accountability and institutional resilience remain pressing concerns across Africa.
The event, themed “Securing the Future: Sustainable National Asset Protection in Africa; Opportunities, Risks and Regulatory Pathways,” brought together legal practitioners, judges and policymakers to examine the challenges of governance, justice and sustainable development.
Addressing participants during a plenary session, Jonathan described members of the Bench and Bar as custodians of the legal and regulatory framework upon which democratic societies depend. He urged them to uphold the principles of justice, fairness and impartiality, warning that national progress can only be sustained when institutions are allowed to function independently and free from undue interference.
According to the former president, a stable and prosperous future rests not on the authority of powerful individuals but on the credibility of institutions capable of enforcing the law equally and consistently.
“As ministers in the temple of justice,” Jonathan said, “the future of our nation can only be secured when justice is stronger than power; when institutions are stronger than individuals; when our post-colonial education system is thoughtfully reformed to meet the demands of a changing world; and when the law affords equal protection to both the powerful and the vulnerable.”
His remarks extended beyond the legal profession to broader questions of national development. Jonathan argued that meaningful progress would require a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s education system, contending that existing structures must be reformed to equip future generations for the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.
He also emphasised the need for accountable leadership and robust legal safeguards, maintaining that sustainable development can only flourish where citizens enjoy equal protection under the law regardless of social status, political influence or economic standing.
The intervention echoes long-standing concerns about the fragility of public institutions in Nigeria and the wider challenge facing many African states: how to build systems capable of outlasting political personalities and delivering justice, accountability and opportunity on a consistent basis.
For Jonathan, the answer lies in strengthening the foundations of governance itself — ensuring that courts remain independent, laws are applied fairly and institutions command greater authority than the individuals who temporarily occupy positions of power.
