Former President Goodluck Jonathan has pushed back against criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he gave his best while leading Nigeria.
Jonathan’s response followed remarks by Atiku during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise TV, where the former vice president described him as inexperienced and suggested that this affected his handling of national challenges while in office.
Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable in leadership but maintained that his administration acted in good faith.
“No one who becomes a governor or president can claim they made no mistakes,” Jonathan said. “I became president at 53 and left at 58, and they say I was too young. Must I have been 100 years old to lead the country?”
He emphasized that while errors may occur in governance, he remained committed to delivering results during his tenure from 2010 to 2015.
Highlighting achievements under his administration, Jonathan pointed to Nigeria’s successful election to the United Nations Security Council, noting that such diplomatic milestones required strategic leadership.
“If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate that process,” he added.
Beyond addressing Atiku’s remarks, Jonathan used the platform to stress the importance of political stability across West Africa. He warned that persistent instability within the region continues to hinder economic growth and development.
According to him, the vision behind the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains relevant but faces challenges due to governance issues among member states.
“We cannot progress economically if we are politically unstable,” he said, urging regional leaders to work collectively toward strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring stability.
Jonathan also encouraged Nigerian diplomats to document the country’s foreign policy experiences to guide future administrations in navigating international relations.
The event also featured tributes to Yakubu Gowon, one of the founding figures of ECOWAS, who reflected on the regional bloc’s origins and the collaborative efforts that led to its establishment in 1975.
