Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, warning that such a system, if not carefully designed with clear outcomes, could jeopardize national unity.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the memorial lecture and day of tribute for the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, Jonathan stressed that imposing a one-party structure purely for personal political ambitions would be harmful to the country’s cohesion.

He also urged Clark’s family to establish an annual memorial lecture to uphold the values the late leader championed unity, equity, and prosperity.

Adding his voice, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s trajectory. Obi lamented that “the labour of our heroes past was already in vain,” citing worsening rural poverty, escalating insecurity, and the high cost of living as signs that the sacrifices made by figures like Pa Edwin Clark have not translated into meaningful progress.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who chaired the event, called on all Nigerians to put the national interest above personal or political agendas. He emphasized that the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria must be safeguarded, noting that genuine progress can only be achieved when collective interests are prioritized.