I Did My Best as President, Jonathan Counters Atiku

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly pushed back against recent criticisms leveled by his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, asserting that his administration performed to the best of his ability during his tenure. Jonathan, speaking at the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja, directly addressed Abubakar's claims of inexperience, arguing that all leaders, regardless of their position, inevitably make mistakes.

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So not too long ago, a senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

Jonathan, who was president from 2010 to 2015 at the age of 53, questioned the notion that his age was a disqualifier for effective leadership. He stated, “Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?” This defense comes as Abubakar, a presidential aspirant, has been critical of past administrations, including Jonathan's, while also expressing disappointment with the current Bola Tinubu government.

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If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity. All human beings must make mistakes.

The former president used the platform to highlight significant diplomatic successes during his time in office, notably Nigeria's two terms on the United Nations Security Council. He argued that navigating such international processes required more than mere inexperience, countering Abubakar's narrative. Furthermore, Jonathan extended his commentary to the broader West African region, emphasizing that political stability is the bedrock of economic progress and warning that ongoing instability in member states hinders the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from achieving its goals.

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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… If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process.

From the perspective of The Punch, a leading Nigerian newspaper, this exchange is significant as it involves prominent figures in Nigerian politics and touches upon the perennial debates about leadership, experience, and governance. The article frames Jonathan's response not just as a personal defense but as a broader commentary on the nature of leadership and the challenges facing Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The emphasis on diplomatic achievements and regional stability offers a distinct Nigerian viewpoint, highlighting national pride and regional concerns that might be overlooked in international reporting.

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I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges.