Jonathan: African leaders must learn to serve — not make life difficult for citizens

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says African leaders must prioritise serving their people and not making life difficult for citizens. 

He spoke at the maiden edition of the African Heritage Concert and Awards in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday.

Jonathan, who bagged the ‘African Democracy and Peace Icon Award’ at the event, called on African leaders to avoid turning themselves into “bosses of the people”.

The former president added that such leaders should be concerned about the legacies they are going leave behind.

“When you are called the executive president, our duty is to run our country properly, not to dehumanize human beings and make their lives difficult. What you should think is when you leave office, what will the world remember for?” he asked.

“Will the world remember you for killing people? Will the world remember you for jailing people, or will the world remember you for destroying their systems?

“What people will remember you for is what should guide our decisions, and I believe every leader should begin to think that when you leave office, one day you will be remembered one way or the other, positively or negatively.”

The organisers — Heritage Times (HT) — said the event was strategically packaged to celebrate and honour African greats who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and have made a sustainable global impact in promoting the continent.

Olumide Akpata, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), snagged the ‘African Legal Icon Award’ while Hamzat Lawal, CEO of Connected Development got the ‘African Humanitarian Award’.

Simbi Wabote, executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), was also honoured with the ‘Champion of Local Content Development in Africa Award’.