Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Nigerians and other Africans want protection from hunger, poverty and deprivation. They also want accountable leadership, he noted.

Mr Jonathan said this on Sunday in a speech at the second Kenneth Kaunda Memorial Public Lecture on Saturday in Pretoria, South Africa.

The former Nigeria president said currently, there were major conflicts and undemocratic governments in a number of African states. These states include Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, Chad, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, as well as tensions and attempted coup d’etat in several others.

“As Africans, we must ask ourselves what is the cause of all these crises,”

Mr Jonathan said. “Nation-building is often described as a marathon, a process that requires the active participation of every citizen to contribute to the fulfilment of the shared dream of the community.”

He added, “This assertion is true in the light of our lived reality as Africans as a continent that is confronted with many developmental issues. Citizens need peace, justice, and security. They want to be shielded from hunger, poverty, and deprivation. Citizens want accountable leadership, a system of government that guarantees their basic rights.”

According to Mr Jonathan, leadership has become a major source of conflicts and wars in most African countries.

“The leadership recruitment process and our inability to effectively manage political transitions have resulted in avoidable conflicts. Elections in some countries have become a source of instability, largely reflecting the kind of leaders we have in authority,” explained the ex-president.

He called on “my fellow brothers and sisters” in Africa “to seek to redefine leadership and governance on the continent.”

Mr Jonathan added, “We need a leadership process that guarantees the fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens and delivers a good life to them. We need to build and protect our political systems to serve the best interest of our people. We must learn how to manage our diversity and build an inclusive society.”

(NAN)