Politics
Jonathan admits shortcomings as president
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted his shortcomings while in power.
He made the admission while reacting to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar who criticised his leadership of the country.
Atiku 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.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has declared that Ikwerre Local Government Area will be a difficult political terrain for former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dike, a lawyer and human rights activist, said Amaechi should not expect an easy political battle in Ikwerre or other parts of Rivers State, arguing that the state’s political dynamics had changed significantly.
He made the assertion on Saturday in a commentary posted on his Facebook page, Princewill Dike Platform.
According to him, Amaechi was fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State and should therefore not anticipate an easy victory in the 2027 elections.
“Amaechi is fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State, and should not expect an easy victory in the state during the next general elections,” Dike said.
The APC chieftain argued that Amaechi’s past political influence and access to federal structures did not translate into electoral victory in Rivers, questioning what would be different in 2027.
He said the emergence of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had significantly altered the political calculations in the state, particularly regarding federal influence and grassroots political structures.
“Whether Amaechi, who could not secure victory despite enjoying considerable federal backing in the past, will now be able to defeat the political structure associated with Wike remains doubtful,” he said.
Dike described Ikwerre as a particularly challenging battleground for Amaechi, stressing that the political realities on the ground should not be underestimated by anyone preparing for the 2027 elections.
He also predicted the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of the Rivers political coalition linked to the FCT Minister.
“Amaechi, who couldn’t win with his federal might, battalion of soldiers and INEC in his beck and call, is it now that the political wonder boy of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, is in charge of the federal might and everything incidental thereto, that he (Amaechi) will win? Abeg, tell me something else jari?” Dike asked.
Quoting from the Scriptures, the APC leader added: “What seest thou? I see P-BAT re-elected, OK Chinda and all the Rivers coalition candidates elected.”
Dike, who is also a philanthropist, maintained that the political tide was already taking shape in Rivers State, saying the strength of emerging alliances and grassroots structures would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 elections.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alubarika, has projected that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the 2027 presidential election in four of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi are expected to dominate the North-East and South-East respectively.
Alubarika made the projection in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he assessed the likely performance of the major contenders based on what he described as his political experience, grassroots engagement and understanding of Nigeria’s electoral dynamics.
According to his projection, Tinubu would secure 50 per cent of the vote in the North Central, compared with 25 per cent for Atiku, 20 per cent for Obi and five per cent for other candidates.
The North Central zone comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
In the North-East, however, Alubarika predicted an advantage for Atiku, giving the former vice president 50 per cent, against 40 per cent for Tinubu. Obi and other candidates were each projected to secure five per cent.
The North-East comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
In the North-West, Alubarika again placed Tinubu ahead with 50 per cent, followed by Atiku with 30 per cent, Obi with 15 per cent and other candidates with five per cent.
For the South-East, the APC chieftain predicted a strong showing for Obi, projecting him to win 50 per cent of the vote. Tinubu was placed at 35 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at five per cent.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected to draw significant support from the region.
Alubarika also projected a 50 per cent share for Tinubu in the South-South, compared with 25 per cent for Obi, 20 per cent for Atiku and five per cent for other candidates.
The South-West recorded Tinubu’s highest projected performance, with Alubarika putting the incumbent president at 69 per cent. Obi was projected at 15 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at six per cent.
Explaining his assessment, Alubarika said he believed the projection was about 75 per cent accurate, while acknowledging that political dynamics could change considerably before the election.
“Politics is never an exact science, and a lot can change before 2027,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political observers to keep his prediction and compare it with the actual results after the election.
“When the votes are counted and the dust settles, come back and give me my flowers,” he wrote.
The projection is not based on an opinion poll or official electoral data but represents Alubarika’s personal assessment of the likely voting pattern ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With the election still ahead, political alliances, party structures, candidate nominations, regional dynamics, economic conditions and other emerging issues could alter the current political calculations.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he can no longer identify with the party.
Sylva announced his decision in a letter dated August 31, 2026, in which he expressed concerns over the direction of the party and the conduct of its leadership.
The former governor accused the APC leadership of promoting the notion that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that the principle had contributed to practices he said were inconsistent with the values he expected from the party.
He also criticised the performance of the Federal Government, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as shortcomings under the APC-led administration.
Describing the APC as a “floundering ship,” Sylva said his continued association with the party was no longer tenable.
The former petroleum minister also copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter, alleging that the anti-graft agency was increasingly being used as an instrument of the APC.
Sylva’s resignation comes amid heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with defections and realignments increasingly shaping the country’s political landscape.
His departure could have political implications in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region, where he remains a prominent figure in the APC and Nigerian politics.
The development is expected to trigger further reactions within the party as political actors continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
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