“Politics Is Not For Rascals” — Jonathan Says Elders Forum Membership Prevents His Return To Active Politics

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained that his continued absence from active and partisan politics is due to his membership in the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), which bars members from political engagement.

Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Thursday at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), themed “Legacy of Impact: Celebrating Our Journey.” The event also featured a gala dinner in honour of his 68th birthday.

Addressing associates who continue to urge him to return to frontline politics, Jonathan said WAEF membership comes with a strict condition of non-partisanship. He described the Forum as a preventive diplomacy platform made up of former heads of state who intervene in electoral situations across West Africa to avert crises arising from poorly managed elections.

According to him, WAEF members “observe elections, but not as co-observers,” adding that their role is to detect early signs of trouble and intervene before they escalate.

“The condition to be a member is that you must be a former president in the sub-region and a former president of ECOWAS. One clear condition is that you will no longer be an active politician,” Jonathan said. “That is why I am disappointing some of my political associates. They expect me to play an active role in politics, but before I do, I must first resign from the WAEF.”

Commenting on Nigeria’s political culture, Jonathan strongly condemned what he described as increasing “rascality,” insisting that politics should be the business of responsible people.

“We must change the face of politics. We must see politics as a business for responsible individuals, not rascals,” he said. “Politics affects everybody, and we must play it with decorum and a sense of responsibility, not with rascality.”

He noted that unlike other professions that require training and certification including teaching politics often allows individuals to assume leadership positions without adequate preparation. He described this as a major flaw that continues to undermine governance.

Jonathan expressed sadness over the recent kidnapping of about 25 girls in Kebbi State, saying the incident brought back painful memories of the Chibok girls’ abduction during his administration. He offered condolences to the families of victims, including a vice principal who was killed, and called for prayers for the safe rescue of the abducted girls.

Sharing the origin of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, he revealed that businessman Tony Elumelu suggested the idea shortly after the 2015 general election. Jonathan said while he initially considered focusing on education and poverty alleviation, advisers urged him to anchor the foundation on areas where he possessed global credibility.

He said democracy and governance became the Foundation’s focus due to his globally recognised role in strengthening electoral processes and conceding defeat before the 2015 results were fully announced, a gesture that was widely applauded.

Despite his academic background in environmental protection and his roots in the Niger Delta, Jonathan said he decided to leave environmental issues to other experts and concentrate on democracy-focused work.

GJF Executive Director Ann Iyonu described the anniversary as a moment of reflection on a decade of impact in democratic governance, peace building, and development across Africa.

She said the Foundation has played a significant role in election mediation, observation missions, policy dialogues, and strategic advocacy. Its annual Democracy Dialogue, launched in 2021, has become a key platform for engagement on threats to democratic resilience.

“This year in Accra, we gathered under the theme ‘Why Democracies Die,’ examining the structural and systemic factors weakening democratic systems globally,” she said.

Iyonu highlighted the Foundation’s contributions to peace building, fostering political stability, strengthening state-citizen trust, and countering violent extremism both online and offline. She added that the Foundation has also helped expand Africa’s global presence through strategic partnerships.

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