Jonathan Fires Back at Atiku: “I Did My Best as President”

By Emmanuel Kwada

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his administration, declaring that he did his best while in office, even as he acknowledged that every leader makes mistakes.

Jonathan made the remarks on Monday while speaking at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja.

His comments were seen as a direct response to recent criticism by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described Jonathan’s presidency as that of an inexperienced leader who made several mistakes.

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

He argued that no one who occupies the position of governor or president can claim perfection.

“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,” he added.

The former president stressed that making mistakes is part of human nature. “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?” he asked.

Jonathan’s response comes amid ongoing political conversations and subtle jabs among key figures in the opposition ahead of future electoral cycles.

Atiku Abubakar, who has remained active in national politics and recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had criticised aspects of Jonathan’s leadership during an interview on Arise TV.

Despite the criticism, Jonathan maintained a tone of reflection rather than confrontation, focusing on the inevitability of errors in leadership while subtly defending his record.

The event, organised by ARCAN, honoured distinguished retired ambassadors and recognised African leaders who played key roles in the founding of ECOWAS. Jonathan used the platform to speak on broader issues of governance, diplomacy, and regional stability in West Africa.

As the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, such remarks are expected to fuel debates on leadership preparedness, track records, and the lessons from past administrations.