Former President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his time in office, insisting that he did his best while leading Nigeria, in response to recent criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku, speaking in a televised interview, had described Jonathan as inexperienced and suggested that his shortcomings contributed to governance challenges during his administration.
Responding at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards in Abuja, Jonathan said no leader is without mistakes, adding that holding public office naturally comes with errors and learning curves.
He noted that he became President at 53 and left office at 58, questioning claims that he was too young to govern, and stressing that experience is also built on the job.
Jonathan defended key decisions taken during his administration, citing Nigeria’s diplomatic achievements, including the country’s election twice into the United Nations Security Council.
He also argued that his leadership experience enabled him to navigate complex international engagements, countering suggestions that he lacked the competence to manage national affairs.
Turning to regional issues, the former President warned that political instability remains a major barrier to economic development across West Africa, urging stronger collaboration among ECOWAS member states.
He further called on Nigerian diplomats to document the country’s foreign policy history to guide future administrations, while commending ECOWAS founding leaders for their vision in establishing the regional bloc.
