By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to recent remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stating that while he made mistakes during his time in office, his actions were guided by the best interests of the country. Atiku, who is currently engaging in political consultations ahead of the 2027 elections, had described Jonathan as inexperienced, suggesting that this affected his ability to manage national challenges during his presidency.
Reacting at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan said leadership naturally involves difficult decisions and occasional errors.
“If I made mistakes, yes… nobody who becomes a governor or president will say they did not make mistakes. All human beings must make mistakes,” he said.
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Jonathan rejected claims that his age at the time influenced his performance, noting that he assumed office in 2010 at 53 and left in 2015 at 58.
“They say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?” he asked.
The former president maintained that despite the challenges faced during his administration, he took decisions he believed were in Nigeria’s best interest. He highlighted Nigeria’s diplomatic achievements during his tenure, including its election to the United Nations Security Council.
“If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process,” he added.
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Jonathan also spoke on broader regional issues, warning that political instability continues to hinder economic growth in West Africa. He stressed the need for stronger cooperation among member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable politically,” he said.
He further urged leaders within the sub-region to work collectively to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure political stability. The exchange between the two political figures comes amid early political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with analysts noting renewed debates over past leadership and future direction.
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By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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