…Ex-President Chides Ex-VP Over Comments on Experience, Governance
By Emmanuel Olugua
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has pushed back against criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he gave his best while in office and that leadership should not be judged solely on claims of experience or age.
Jonathan’s response follows remarks by Atiku during a televised interview, where the former vice president described him as inexperienced and faulted his handling of national challenges while in power. Atiku, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had also downplayed the political strength of other contenders, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, and Aminu Tambuwal, while expressing dissatisfaction with the current administration.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 awards ceremony of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), Jonathan acknowledged that mistakes were inevitable in governance but rejected the suggestion that his administration was defined by inexperience.
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or president will say you did not make mistakes,” he said. “All human beings must make mistakes.”
The former president also challenged the narrative that he was too young to lead, noting that he assumed office at 53 and left at 58.
“I became president in 2010 at the age of 53… and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?” he asked.
Jonathan maintained that despite the challenges of his tenure, his administration recorded significant achievements, particularly in the area of diplomacy. He cited Nigeria’s successful election to the United Nations Security Council during his presidency as evidence of strategic leadership and effective international engagement.
“If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process,” he added.
Beyond the exchange with Atiku, Jonathan raised broader concerns about governance and political stability in West Africa, warning that economic progress would remain elusive without strong democratic institutions.
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he said, stressing that the vision of the Economic Community of West African States continues to face setbacks due to persistent political crises in member states.
He noted that while ECOWAS was founded primarily as an economic bloc, its success is increasingly tied to the ability of member states to uphold democratic norms and maintain internal stability, even as issues of national sovereignty complicate regional interventions.
Jonathan called on leaders across the sub-region to strengthen cooperation and take collective responsibility for ensuring political stability, adding that Nigeria’s diplomatic history should be better documented to guide future administrations.
Also speaking at the event, former Head of State Yakubu Gowon reflected on the origins of ECOWAS in 1975, describing it as a product of collective regional efforts following Nigeria’s civil war. He emphasised that the bloc’s establishment was driven by a shared vision of economic integration and political cooperation among West African nations.
President of ARCAN, Joe Keshi, highlighted the importance of diplomacy in sustaining peace and fostering international partnerships, noting that the awards ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS and honoured its founding visionaries.