Former President Goodluck Jonathan has attributed the failure to implement the 2014 National Conference recommendations to political tensions and internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 elections.
During a condolence visit to the family of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Lagos, Jonathan acknowledged Adebanjo’s key role in the conference’s success.
“Without people like him and other leaders, the conference wouldn’t have taken place,” he said, noting that he allowed experienced delegates to make independent decisions rather than interfering.
Despite the report’s significance, Jonathan explained that the political climate at the time made implementation difficult. “It was not the time we could present such a document. We believe that one day, a government will review it and adopt it because the outcomes remain relevant,” he said.
He also paid tribute to Adebanjo and PANDEF leader Edwin Clark, describing them as champions of justice and national progress. “He was a man of wisdom, courage, and commitment to truth and justice—values essential for national growth,” Jonathan stated.
