In a sobering address to the nation, former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised an alarm over what he describes as the growing normalization of bloodshed and insecurity in Nigeria. Speaking on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Jonathan lamented that relentless violence, mass killings, and lawlessness are fast becoming accepted as the "new normal," eroding the country’s moral fabric and collective sense of empathy.

 

 

The former President delivered the heavy-hearted speech at the First Session of the 13th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Abuja, held at St. James Anglican Church in Asokoro.

 

 

The Danger of Becoming Desensitized to Violence

Reflecting on how Nigeria’s national conscience has shifted over the years, Jonathan noted that tragedies which used to shock and halt the entire country are now met with collective indifference.

 

 

“When we look around today, particularly at the challenges confronting our country, it is easy to become discouraged," Jonathan stated. "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 normalize these tragedies as though they are ordinary occurrences."

 

 

He further added:

  • The Loss of Outrage: "In times past, such incidents would shake the conscience of the nation."

     

     

  • Life Just Moves On: "Today, people are killed, communities are destroyed, and life seems to continue as though nothing has happened. This ought not to be so."

     

     

Technology and the Glorification of the Wrong Things

Beyond physical insecurity, the former President pointed to a deepening cultural and moral crisis among the youth, partly fueled by the digital age. While acknowledging the immense benefits of modern technology and global information systems, he warned that they are simultaneously serving as vehicles for toxic societal shifts.

 

 

According to Jonathan, digital platforms have inadvertently created an environment where negative behaviors, cultism, and violence are glorified, while virtue and righteousness are pushed to the background.

 

 

“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 warned. "This is not the future we should desire for our children and generations yet unborn.”

 

 

A Call for Moral Leadership and Spiritual Direction

Despite the grim assessment, the former President maintained that Nigeria's trajectory can be corrected. He urged the Church to stand firm as the "conscience of society" and called on the nation's political class to step up with genuine integrity and vision.

Jonathan emphasized that pulling Nigeria out of its current moral and security tailspin will ultimately require a collective restoration of values, focused leadership, and unwavering spiritual guidance.