In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation yesterday brought together men and women from across the continent including former President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, former Vice President of the Gambia Aja Fatoumata Tambajang, the current serving president of the ECOWAS Commission Dr Omar Alieu Touray, state governors, academic scholars, businessmen, civil servants and monarchs, with His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, being the Royal father of the day. Other notable voices in attendance include the prolific speaker Professor Patrick Lumumba who delivered an excellent keynote address. The theme for this year being “Breaking New Grounds in Democracy-Development Nexus in Africa”.
The well attended event held in honour of His Excellency former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR bordered on the leadership conversation on the African continent exploring the gaps in the democratic processes and ways to make these processes grow stronger and yield more dividends through individual and institutional changes across board.
In his brief address, His Majesty remarked “No matter the symbol of authority on a leader, be it a crown, be it a constitutional sash, or whatever the mantle is, it’s very important that the people and the interests of the people to be governed are carried along.”
It is his Majesty’s hope that the foundation grows in impact as it continues conversations such as this, and even further evolve into proffering solutions to the problems around leadership and true development on the continent.