₦airaland Forum

I made mistakes, but did my best – Jonathan replies Atiku

April 21, 2026

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has countered ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar who criticised his leadership of the country.

Atiku, who is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress, had recently described Jonathan as inexperienced, saying his tenure was marked by notable missteps.

“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,” he said on Arise TV.

Reacting at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan acknowledged that leadership inevitably involves errors, but rejected the notion that his age undermined his performance.

“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. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

The former president maintained that, despite any shortcomings, he made decisions he believed were in the country’s best interest. He pointed to Nigeria’s diplomatic strides during his tenure, including its election to the United Nations Security Council.

“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,” he said.

Jonathan also spoke on regional affairs, warning that political instability remains a major obstacle to economic growth across West Africa. He stressed that without stable governance systems, meaningful development in the sub-region would remain elusive.

“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he said.

Jonathan noted that while the founders of ECOWAS envisioned strong economic cooperation, persistent political crises have hindered progress, particularly in enforcing democratic standards among member states.

“That means that ECOWAS must interfere with the internal affairs of the states, and the issue of sovereignty becomes a problem,” he said.

Jonathan urged leaders in the region to work collectively towards stability, saying, “The heads of states of ECOWAS must continue to work together and agree on concrete terms and make sure that the sub-region is politically stable.”

He added that economic integration efforts would falter without solid democratic institutions and called on Nigerian diplomats to properly document foreign policy experiences for future leaders.

Paying tribute to ECOWAS founders, including former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, Jonathan described the creation of the bloc in 1975 as a bold and necessary step toward regional unity and economic integration.

Gowon, who was also honoured at the event, recounted the origins of ECOWAS, linking its formation to post-war diplomatic engagements across West Africa.

According to him, “It was as a result of the various efforts of all Nigerians when we went through a very difficult period, and I had to go to the various countries to say thank you.”

He said discussions with regional leaders at the time led to a shared vision for broader cooperation.

“Why don’t we also think about having something that we can at least have in agreement for all of us when we are working together?” he said.

Gowon emphasised that ECOWAS was the product of collective effort rather than individual ambition, crediting government institutions and civil servants for its success.

“This would not have been possible without the support of all the staff of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development,” he stated.

He added that the recognition bestowed on him should be shared widely.

“The honour that is being done to me today should really go back to all the staff that worked so hard to make sure that this became a reality,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria, Joe Keshi, highlighted the importance of honouring excellence in diplomacy, noting that the awards celebrate dedication and service to Nigeria and the continent.

“Diplomacy is one profession where success is often invisible, reflected not by news coverage, but by maintained stability, prevented conflicts, cultivated partnerships,” he said.

Keshi noted that the event coincides with the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, describing the organisation as “a bold experiment in regionalism,” and urged diplomats to adapt to evolving global challenges.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waheed Shaibu, also praised Gowon, describing him as a symbol of national unity and visionary leadership.

He said the recognition offers a chance to reflect on a legacy “defined by visionary leadership, courage, and unwavering commitment to the unity, stability, peace, and progress” of Nigeria.

Shaibu added that Gowon’s leadership reflected “patriotism, resilience, and a profound sense of duty,” while commending ARCAN for its continued contribution to diplomatic discourse and Nigeria’s global engagement.

givedemwotowoto:
GEJ's worst is clearly better than what we have today as the best

helinues:
Imagine Atiku that the power portfolio was singlehandedly given to him to find solutions but unfortunately, importation of generator was the solution Atiku had for Nigeria

Should Atiku be shading others about governance? Someone who almost sold all our national assets to his friends and cronies

madridguy:
The same Atiku that sold almost every of our national assets to his friends at a very cheaper rate.

anonimi:
How Indorama sustains manufacturers, boosts Nigeria’s FX earnings

Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) has emerged as a major value creator in the Nigerian economy. It is responsible for the survival, growth and sustenance of many manufacturing companies in Nigeria today. A large number of plastic and allied firms depend on the Eleme-based company for petrochemical resins (or polymer resins) which serve as their raw materials.

The petrochemical company is just one of the several subsidiaries of Indorama-Nigeria Group, which also comprises Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited (IEFCL), Indorama PET Nigeria Limited, and Indorama Port Operations.

Since Indorama Corporation of Indonesia became core investor in the old Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL) in 2006 through privatisation programme of the Federal Government, the group has become a game changer in the Nigerian economy.

The petrochemical company has solved the major challenge facing a number of manufacturers— poor access to raw materials. Rather than scramble for foreign exchange to import inputs, the company ensures that manufacturers have access to their critical raw materials, enabling them to save costs and improve margins.

The major resins used by plastic and allied companies are polyethylene and polypropylene. Indorama produces about 45 grades of these products for various industries. About 600 of such companies in Nigeria depend on IEPL for their survival. They are estimated to have over 90,000 workers.

https://businessday.ng/real-sector/article/how-indorama-sustains-manufacturers-boosts-nigerias-fx-earnings/

Parachoko:
Atiku who stole more than $40,000,000 between 2000 and 2007 and sent it to his wife in the USA should please shut up his mouth

Parachoko:
He even sold a lot of National Assets far below their price to incompetent people and got kickbacks from the deals

Redoil:
GUY MAN JONATHAN should rest.
if not for tinubu and atiku who lied to Nigerian about Jonathan buhari would have never smelled the position

Borrow2222:
Yes, but he is the reason we have APC today.

If he knew he wasn’t ready to hold power, he could have given Atiku the presidential ticket under PDP.

He just allowed some ragtag group to forcefully snatch power from him.

Now look at the mess we’ve found ourselves in.

He could have simply resigned, because he had done 6 years already that’s almost 2 tenures.

To show you that he’s an unserious man, he’s even fraternizing with the same people who almost ruined his life and family.

Borrow2222:
Yes, but he is the reason we have APC today.

If he knew he wasn’t ready to hold power, he could have given Atiku the presidential ticket under PDP

He just allowed some ragtag group to forcefully snatch power from him.

Now look at the mess we’ve found ourselves in.

He could have simply resigned, because he had done 6 years already that’s almost 2 tenures.

To show you that he’s an unserious man, he’s even fraternizing with the same people who almost ruined his life and family.

Parachoko:
Atiku who stole more than $40,000,000 between 2000 and 2007 and sent it to his wife in the USA should please shut up his mouth

HallahGeisher:
They repackaged frauds

anonimi:
March 21, 2011

Tinubu rules out alliance with CPC

Prospect of a possible alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, was dashed yesterday in Kano as the leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu described CPC as parading “expired leadership.”

Tinubu told ACN supporters in Kano during the party’s Presidential rally that: “What Nigerians need now is a transformation in leadership” as obtained in the advanced economy.

The two-term Governor of Lagos State explained that the leadership of ACN was offering Nigeria the brilliance of Nuhu Ribadu who, he said, is in the class of Nicolas Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain, Medvedev of Russia and Barack Obama of the United States of America.

“What has CPC got to offer? We certainly don’t need expired leadership as we are offering the best in terms of brilliance, courage and patriotism in the class of Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain and Barack Obama of the USA.”

Tinubu’s position came on the heels of Ribadu’s declaration penultimate week in Kaduna when he hinted during a political rally of a joint ticket between the two opposition parties to confront the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The national leader of ACN criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for shying away from the national debate held last Friday, stressing that”that singular act exposed Jonathan as a coward who has nothing to offer.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/tinubu-rules-out-alliance-with-cpc/

floss:
Hope your lawyer get lawyer ?

Borrow2222:
Yes, but he is the reason we have APC today.

If he knew he wasn’t ready to hold power, he could have given Atiku the presidential ticket under PDP.

He just allowed some ragtag group to forcefully snatch power from him.

Now look at the mess we’ve found ourselves in.

He could have simply resigned, because he had done 6 years already that’s almost 2 tenures.

To show you that he’s an unserious man, he’s even fraternizing with the same people who almost ruined his life and family.

helinues:
Up Nepa is one of the reasons I can never support Atiku as a Nigeria president. He could have turned things around once and for all when he had the opportunity.

The so called opposition leaders are just exposing their shady past all in the name of shading others

Parachoko:
He was indicted in the USA, that's why he can't go to the USA.

His wife and lawyer were sentenced to jail in the USA for helping Atiku to steal Nigeria money

A small boy like you no fit know anything about what was happening in Nigeria back then sha

Passionate888:
Atiku talks too much, that's how he said 'let the youths vote for him' when asked about the popularity of Obi amongst the youths, now him don open mouth dey yarn nonsense about GEJ.
That man too dey behave like sowore, only him good the rest no good

Parachoko:
He was indicted in the USA, that's why he can't go to the USA.

His wife and lawyer were sentenced to jail in the USA for helping Atiku to steal Nigeria money

A small boy like you no fit know anything about what was happening in Nigeria back then sha