I Made Mistakes, But Did My Best – Jonathan Defends Tenure Against Atiku

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former President Goodluck Jonathan has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over comments regarding his leadership, insisting that while his administration was not perfect, he acted in the best interest of the nation.

The exchange follows a recent Arise TV interview where Atiku, currently the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), labeled Jonathan as “inexperienced” during his time in office. Atiku claimed this perceived lack of experience contributed to Jonathan’s inability to manage the country’s affairs effectively.

Speaking on Monday at the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan dismissed the idea that his age—53 at the time he took office—was a hindrance. He questioned whether a leader must be “100 years old” before being considered capable of running a state.

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes,” Jonathan stated, as monitored by NaijaChoice News. He argued that even those who elevate themselves to the level of deities are prone to human error.

The former president pointed to Nigeria’s diplomatic achievements under his watch as evidence of his competence. He specifically highlighted Nigeria’s election to the United Nations Security Council on two separate occasions during his tenure.

“I’m talking to diplomats, so I can say that during my period, I knew what I did for us to appear in the UN Security Council two times,” Jonathan said. He noted that a “naive” leader could not have successfully navigated such complex international processes.

Turning his attention to regional matters, Jonathan warned that political instability is the biggest threat to economic growth in West Africa. He lamented that the vision of the ECOWAS founders is being stalled by persistent political crises across the sub-region.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was also honored at the event. Gowon reflected on the 1975 formation of ECOWAS, describing it as a collective effort born out of a desire for regional unity following Nigeria’s post-civil war diplomatic engagements.

General Gowon emphasized that the success of the regional bloc was not the work of one man but the result of dedicated civil servants and staff in the Ministry of External Affairs. He urged the current generation to protect the legacy of regional integration.

The ARCAN President, Joe Keshi, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waheed Shaibu, also delivered remarks at the ceremony. Both praised the honorees for their service to the country, noting that diplomacy remains a critical, though often invisible, pillar of national stability.