Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has on Wednesday, said that the South-West region is the only part of the country that has been able to manage religion and development very well, .
He added that the rest of Nigeria can therefore, learn something about the management of ethnic and religious diversity from the South-West, attributing Nigeria’s current problems to its failure to properly manage its diversity in a way that gives minorities a sense of belonging.
He said this in an address at the 13th Joe-Kyari Gadzama Public Lecture, with the theme: ‘Redefining Democracy: Yearnings of the Minority in a Democratic Setting’, which held virtually.
His words: “That is the only part of Nigeria where we feel has been able to manage religion and development very well.
“So, we must look at our own unique circumstances, and come up with the right form of government.”
The former President noted that in the case of Nigeria, the complications associated with the marginalisation of minority groups and tribes were identified decades ago, and efforts were made across generations to solve the problems.
He described the setting up of the Willinks Commission by the colonial government as one of such efforts.
Speaking further, Goodluck Jonathan expressed sadness that although the Federal Character Commission, FCC, was established as part of efforts to address the issue of marginalisation, it is yet to fully achieve its set objective.
He added: “The Federal Character Commission over many decades, may have been doing its best to give everyone fair representation and a fair sense of belonging, but there are still many who feel that this Agency of government has not fully addressed the challenges of accommodating minorities.”
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