In Cambodia, Jonathan Urges World Leaders To Allow People Exercise Their Voting Rights

A former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has urged world leaders to pursue peace in their respective countries by practising true democracy.

Speaking on Sunday at the international leadership conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jonathan said good governance is the catalyst for political stability, advancement, and inclusive development.

The conference was jointly organised by the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) and the Asian Vision Institute (AVI).

According to the former president, citizens vote for long-lasting peace and sustainable development when they are given the freedom to exercise their rights.

“I urge world leaders to truly imbibe and embrace these principles of true democracy by not just overseeing routine elections but conducting elections that are free, fair, inclusive, transparent and credible towards placing governance at the service of the people and establishing a culture of global peace and harmony,” Jonathan said.

“Frankly speaking, talking about elections, it is important to note that the election value chain through voting in the field, processing and collating of results to the announcement of the outcomes, and in some countries, the judicial procedures where the processes go through litigations, must be built on a solid foundation of justice for democracy to function effectively.

“The International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP-Africa), which I chair, will continue to advocate for a democratic culture rooted in free, fair elections, rule of law and good governance”, he said.