Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has reacted to the violence which rocked US’s Capitol Hill, saying nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen anywhere in the world.
News Central reports that President Donald Trump supporters had on Wednesday stormed the Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory. No fewer than four people died in the violence with police arresting at least 52 people.
Reacting to the incident in a Facebook post, Jonathan said there was a need for leaders to resist the urge to hold on to power.
He added that leaders must choose the path of honour and put the interest if their people first.
Recall that Jonathan had congratulated his opponent in the 2015 presidential elections, Muhammadu Buhari, even before the election results were fully announced.
“I have repeatedly said nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen, in any part of the world. Absolutely nobody. Again, I reiterate that it is better to lose power at the cost of gaining peace, than to gain power at the price of losing the peace,” Jonathan said in the post.
“As a leader, one must not just look unto one’s own interest, but the interest and the good of society. It is never too late to reject the venom and inject the serum of peace.
“It is necessary to state that the highest purpose of leadership is to bring people together, even those that do not share in your philosophy. And you do not need an office to do that. All you need to achieve that height of leadership is conscience. Let us be men of conscience at this hour.”