Former President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the growing influence of political thuggery in Nigeria, describing the country as the only nation in Africa where thuggery has become a profession.

Jonathan spoke on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association Law Week in Abuja, where he called for reforms in Nigeria’s electoral and judicial systems to strengthen democracy and restore public confidence in elections.

The former president added that it is also a she that thugs earn more than professors in the country as it is not an unusual occurrence to see them fly first class while a professor struggles to afford economy.

“Look, Nigeria is the only country where thuggery is a profession in Africa. I don’t want to mention the state. Some thugs, when they are travelling out of this country, fly first class, while university professors struggle to manage to buy economy tickets.