Jonathan Defends Record in Office, Responds to Atiku’s ‘Inexperience’ Claim
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has pushed back against criticism of his administration, saying he gave his best while in office despite recent remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.¹
Jonathan’s comments came after Atiku, during an interview on ARISE TV, described the former president as inexperienced and linked that to perceived failures under his government.²
Jonathan: No Leader Governs Without Mistakes
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Jonathan said no leader who has served as governor or president can claim to have avoided errors.³
“So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’”
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes,” he said.
He questioned the premise of the criticism, pointing out that he took office at 53 and left at 58. He asked whether leadership should be left only to much older people.
“Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?” he added.
Defending Key Achievements
Jonathan also defended major decisions taken during his tenure. He cited Nigeria’s diplomatic gains, including the country’s election to the United Nations Security Council, as proof of capable leadership.⁴
“I’m talking to diplomats… If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process,” he said.
He argued that navigating complex international diplomacy and securing a non-permanent seat on the Security Council required competence and strategic engagement, not inexperience.
Warning on West Africa’s Political Instability
Beyond responding to Atiku, the former president raised concerns about political instability across West Africa. He warned that it remains a major obstacle to economic growth in the region.⁵
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he stressed.
Jonathan urged leaders within the ECOWAS bloc to collaborate on strengthening democratic institutions. He noted that without political stability, the region’s economic goals would remain out of reach.
Call for Stronger Institutions
He stressed that democratic governance, rule of law, and peaceful transitions are prerequisites for investment, job creation, and regional integration.
For Jonathan, the lesson from his years in office is that leadership will always attract criticism, but stability and institution-building are what determine long-term progress.