Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and other Nigerian leaders to strengthen national unity, promote peace and pursue inclusive development as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
Jonathan delivered the message on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigerians commemorated the country's independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960. The former President said the anniversary should serve as an opportunity for both leaders and citizens to renew their commitment to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria.
Jonathan said Nigeria's strength lies in its diversity and urged leaders at the federal, state and local levels to ensure that differences in ethnicity, religion, region and political affiliation do not become instruments of division.
He specifically called on those entrusted with leadership responsibilities to pursue policies capable of promoting inclusion and giving Nigerians a stronger sense of belonging in their country.
The former President said Independence Day should go beyond celebration and provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country's journey, challenges and responsibilities.
According to him, the country has made progress in different areas since independence but continues to face challenges requiring collective action from government and citizens.
Jonathan stressed that leaders have a responsibility to create conditions in which Nigerians can live peacefully and pursue their aspirations regardless of their backgrounds.
His message placed particular emphasis on peace, national cohesion, justice and inclusive governance as necessary elements for Nigeria's continued development.
The former President also urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country's future despite the economic, security and social difficulties confronting many citizens.
He said Nigeria's journey since independence had included difficult periods but argued that citizens should continue working towards a better country rather than allowing existing challenges to weaken national commitment.
Jonathan called for greater cooperation among Nigerians and urged citizens to see the country's diversity as an advantage.
The former President, who governed Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, has repeatedly spoken about peaceful coexistence and democratic stability since leaving office.
His October 1 message again centred on the responsibility of political leaders to manage Nigeria's differences in a manner that strengthens rather than weakens the federation.
Jonathan's remarks came on the same day President Tinubu delivered his own Independence Day address to Nigerians.
Tinubu's nationwide broadcast, titled “From Reform to Prosperity,” focused heavily on the economy and the reforms implemented by his administration since taking office on May 29, 2023.
The President acknowledged the economic difficulties experienced by Nigerians but argued that the reforms introduced by his government were necessary to address longstanding structural problems.
Tinubu said his administration had inherited an economy facing serious challenges and maintained that decisions including petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms were intended to place the country on a more sustainable path.
“The reforms that followed were difficult. The side effects were real. Yet, we must never confuse the medicine with the disease,” Tinubu said in his October 1 address.
The President said the country had made progress in areas including economic growth, foreign reserves, non-oil exports and foreign exchange stability.
He also acknowledged that millions of Nigerians continued to struggle with food costs, transportation, healthcare, school fees and other basic expenses.
“Our priority is to bring down the cost of living,” Tinubu said.
He declared that his administration would now concentrate on ensuring that economic improvements translate into better living conditions and increased opportunities for citizens.
Jonathan's Independence Day message approached the anniversary from a broader national-unity perspective.
Rather than concentrating principally on economic statistics, the former President emphasised the relationship between leadership, peace, inclusion and national development.
His message to Tinubu and the governors was therefore a call for leaders across the country to place national interest above divisions and ensure that citizens are included in the development process.
Jonathan also paid tribute to Nigerians who contributed to the struggle for independence and to those who have worked for the country's development over the decades.
He urged the current generation to preserve the country handed to it by previous generations and continue the work of strengthening its democratic institutions.
The former President has previously linked sustainable development to peace and political stability, arguing that development becomes difficult where societies remain deeply divided or affected by persistent conflict.
His October 1 message followed the same theme.
Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary comes at a time when the country continues to confront insecurity in several regions, economic pressures and continuing political disagreements over the direction of government policies.
Political leaders from government and opposition parties issued different assessments of the country's condition as part of the anniversary.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, used his own State of the Nation Address on October 1 to criticise the Tinubu administration over economic hardship, public debt and what he described as concerns surrounding the rule of law.
Tinubu, on the other hand, argued that his administration's reforms were beginning to produce results and said Nigeria was moving from an “age of reform” towards an “age of prosperity.”
Jonathan's message did not follow the same confrontational political approach.
His remarks concentrated on encouraging leaders and citizens to protect national unity and work collectively towards development.
The former President urged those in positions of authority to recognise the responsibility attached to leadership and ensure that governance serves Nigerians across political, ethnic and religious divisions.
He also called on Nigerians themselves to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
For Jonathan, the significance of Nigeria's Independence Anniversary rests not only in remembering October 1, 1960, but also in considering what present-day Nigerians are doing to strengthen the country for future generations.
His message consequently placed responsibility on both sides of the relationship between government and citizens: leaders should promote justice, inclusion, peace and development, while citizens should continue contributing towards national unity and progress.
Jonathan's October 1 intervention therefore represents a call to President Tinubu, the 36 state governors, other public officials and Nigerians generally to strengthen unity and ensure that development reaches citizens across the country.
As Nigeria enters its 67th year as an independent nation, the former President urged the country's leadership to recognise that national progress requires cooperation across political and social differences.
The central message was that Nigeria's diversity should remain a source of strength and that leaders must continue working towards a country where citizens can live peacefully, participate meaningfully in national life and benefit from development.
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