Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over the growing insecurity and violence across the country, warning that Nigerians are gradually becoming desensitised to killings and tragic events.
Jonathan stated that the country is steadily losing its moral values and sense of humanity as violent incidents increasingly become treated as normal occurrences.
The former president made the remarks while speaking during a function held at St James Anglican Church in Abuja on Saturday.
Reflecting on the state of the nation, Jonathan said the frequent cases of insecurity, killings and destruction of communities should ordinarily provoke national outrage, but lamented that many people now react with indifference.
“When we look around today, particularly at the challenges confronting our country, it is easy to become discouraged,” he said.
“Violence, insecurity, moral decline, and the loss of human values have become deeply troubling realities. What is even more painful is how society sometimes appears to normalise these tragedies as though they are ordinary occurrences.”
The former president noted that in previous years, incidents involving mass killings or violent attacks would shake the conscience of the nation, unlike the current situation where such events are quickly forgotten.
“In times past, such incidents would shake the conscience of the nation. Today, people are killed, communities are destroyed, and life seems to continue as though nothing has happened. This ought not to be so,” Jonathan stated.
According to him, the situation highlights the urgent need for moral direction, spiritual guidance and the restoration of societal values.
“It is a reminder that society desperately needs moral direction, spiritual guidance, and a restoration of values,” he added.
Jonathan also warned about the increasing influence of harmful values spreading through modern technology and digital information systems.
While acknowledging the benefits of technological advancement, he said social media and other online platforms are also contributing to the glorification of negative behaviours.
“The influence of modern technology and information systems, though beneficial in many ways, has also contributed to the spread of negative values where wrong is sometimes celebrated more than good,” he said.
“This is not the future we should desire for our children and generations yet unborn.”
