ABUJA, August 5, 2025 — Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has stirred nationwide debate after delivering a bold and reflective message on Nigeria’s leadership and accountability. In a recent public address, the former leader proposed the construction of two monumental buildings in Abuja to serve as permanent reminders of individuals—dead or alive—who contributed to the country’s underdevelopment and suffering.
In his words:
“Maybe one day, we will have two big buildings in Abuja where we will put pictures of people—whether dead or alive—who have messed up this country so that their grandchildren will know their forefathers were part of Nigeria’s problems.”
The statement, made during a leadership symposium in Abuja attended by students, civil society leaders, and political stakeholders, has been described by analysts as both a call for historical accountability and a critique of Nigeria’s elite class, who have over the decades been accused of looting, mismanagement, and promoting disunity.
🏛 A Monument of Accountability
Jonathan’s remarks highlight a symbolic vision for national consciousness, where the mistakes of past leaders, politicians, civil servants, and even corporate saboteurs would not be forgotten or rewritten.
“Too often, we celebrate those who ruin institutions, destroy lives, and loot public funds,” he continued. “But if we had a wall of shame—two towers of remembrance—perhaps it would caution those currently in power and those who will lead tomorrow.”
📜 Background and Context
Since leaving office in 2015, Goodluck Jonathan has often spoken about the importance of democracy, peace, and transparency, but this latest remark reflects a more frustrated and candid tone, possibly influenced by ongoing national hardships, insecurity, and governance failures witnessed across party lines in the past decade.
Nigeria has been grappling with issues such as:
- Corruption in public service
- Mismanagement of natural resources
- Election malpractice
- Security crises and ethnic divisions
- Poor infrastructure and collapsing education systems
Jonathan’s idea seems to be metaphorical, but many on social media and political forums have taken it seriously, suggesting the former president has finally broken ranks with the political establishment to openly criticise not just his successors but also his own generation of leaders.
💬 Public Reactions
Reactions have been mixed:
- Youths and civic groups have praised the former president, describing his words as “powerful” and “truthful,” with hashtags like #MonumentOfShame and #NigeriaMustRemember trending on X (formerly Twitter).
- Critics, however, pointed out that Jonathan himself once led the country and questioned whether his own picture would be placed in one of the buildings, given controversies during his administration.
- Political commentators also saw the remarks as a subtle jab at both current and past administrations, with some noting that “leaders know the rot—they were the rot.”
🔍 A Deeper Message
While symbolic, Jonathan’s statement sheds light on Nigeria’s urgent need for historical memory, civic education, and a legacy of truth-telling. Some have proposed turning the concept into a museum of political accountability, similar to Holocaust museums or Apartheid museums elsewhere in the world, that document how a nation’s suffering was caused by its own elite.
✅ Conclusion
Goodluck Jonathan’s comments serve as a sobering reminder that no nation can truly progress without confronting its past. His powerful imagery—a pair of buildings filled with the faces of those who wrecked the country—calls for a shift from amnesia and hero worship to a new culture of naming and remembering the actions of those who held Nigeria back.
Whether these monuments are ever physically built or not, the conversation they have sparked is already pushing Nigeria to reflect more deeply on what legacy its leaders leave behind—and what future its people must now create.