By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of National Planning and Minister of State for Finance, has said that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan left a legacy of good governance, democratic leadership, economic reforms, and statesmanship that cannot be undermined by false narratives.

Yuguda who also served Nigeria as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, was reacting to a remark credited to former vice president Atiku Abubakar who was quoted to have said that Jonathan’s administration was affected by inexperience.

Yuguda said in a statement on Friday that the former President governed with honour, experience, vision, and restraint, particularly during the 2015 transfer of power.

Atiku had said during an interview on ARISE News Channel, that many young leaders in Nigeria have found it difficult to succeed in office because they lack adequate experience and are not fully prepared for the demands of governance.

The former Vice-President pointed to Nigeria’s leadership transition after the tenure of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, stating that although Yar’Adua had a promising start in office, the administration that followed under Goodluck Jonathan later struggled amid growing national challenges.

“For instance, like this case of Umaru Yar’Adua, who started very well and was succeeded by Goodluck Jonathan. I know Jonathan very well — a decent young man — but he was inexperienced, and that, I believe, also contributed to his failure to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.

Reacting to the former Vice-President’s remarks, Yuguda described Atiku’s comments as inaccurate and inconsistent with the facts.

He stressed that before Jonathan took the presidential oath, he had already served in key executive positions as Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice-President, and later Acting President during the illness of the late Yar’Adua, adding that these were not ceremonial roles but critical leadership experiences that prepared him for governance at the highest level.

The former minister stated, “During that period, Nigeria’s economic profile expanded significantly. The country attained the status of Africa’s largest economy, attracted strong investor confidence, and maintained relative stability in key indicators. Poverty levels declined to some of the lowest recorded since the return to democratic rule in 1999. These are not retrospective claims; they are outcomes documented by credible institutions.

“In agriculture, the administration moved the conversation from subsistence to sustainability. Reforms in the sector improved food availability and earned Nigeria global recognition for progress towards hunger reduction targets.

“The Jonathan administration revived train routes across Nigeria to provide an inexpensive alternative to road and air travel. On behalf of the President, I personally commissioned the rehabilitation and restoration of the Zaria–Gusau–Kaura Namoda rail line, which had deteriorated over time following 26 years of neglect.

“His vision for transformational development also found expression in the attention he gave to the education sector. He established no fewer than 12 new federal universities, with nine of them in the North, and about 165 Almajiri schools to enhance access to education across the country. Those of us in government at the time understood that these gains were the result of focused policy execution, not happenstance.”

Yuguda said what stood out most about former President Jonathan to many of those who served with him was his temperament.

The former Minister of State for Finance continued:
“He possessed a calmness that steadied governance, even in moments of pressure. I recall numerous occasions when he would discourage any attempt by his appointees to respond sharply to critics, including former leaders. His position was clear: leadership must not descend into unnecessary confrontation.

“That disposition was consistent with the loyalty he demonstrated to his own principal, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory. Even in trying times, he upheld the dignity of that office and the sanctity of that relationship. Even as a former President, he has continued to visit his successors, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consult them on important national and sub-regional issues. It is a standard worth reflecting on, especially when contrasted with the well-known strains that existed between Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Olusegun Obasanjo during their time in office.

“No leader is beyond criticism, and President Jonathan himself would be the first to acknowledge that he is human and capable of error. But to reduce his presidency to a question of inexperience is to overlook both the depth of his preparation and the substance of his record.

“His most enduring legacy, in my view, lies in his respect for democratic values. Despite the security challenges at the time of the 2015 elections, Jonathan did not use them as an excuse to prolong his stay in office. He not only ensured that elections were conducted even in areas with the most difficult security challenges, he also pioneered the deployment of technology to enhance the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.”

Yuguda recalled that Jonathan honourably conceded power without hesitation, placing national stability above personal ambition — a decision he said profoundly shaped Nigeria’s democratic culture.

The statement added, “President Jonathan has remained consistent even out of office, measured in speech, respectful of institutions, and disinclined towards inflammatory commentary. That is why he has continued to be in high demand in peace negotiations and election observation missions within and outside Africa. In an era where political discourse is often heated, that restraint is not weakness; it is statesmanship.

“Ultimately, Nigerians will judge based on evidence, not assertions. They can differentiate between leadership that left tangible footprints and narratives that seek, after the fact, to redefine it. President Jonathan’s contributions are visible, documented, and enduring.

“They do not require embellishment, and they certainly cannot be diminished by revisionist claims, especially by one whose claim to experience in the last two decades has remained an unrealised ambition to be elected President of our great country.”

“We must reflect on what might have become of our nation’s democracy if those who now criticise Jonathan had found themselves in his position when his former boss, President Yar’Adua of blessed memory, fell ill.

“Would they have acted with the same wisdom, decorum, and restraint that Jonathan demonstrated in the interest of preserving the nation’s fragile democracy, or would personal ambition have driven them to destabilise it?” he asked.

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has awarded ₦1 billion in damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim in suit number HCL/16/2023, stemmed from comments made by the senator during a live appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television on November 4, 2022.

The remarks, which included serious allegations against the former governor, became the basis of the legal dispute.

In his decision, Justice Ibrahim held that the statements made by the defendant were injurious to the claimant’s character and reputation and were not justified by the evidence presented before the court.

He noted that all issues formulated for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.

“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV programme ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation.

“The said interview in which the defendant described the claimant as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State was without justification,” the judge ruled.

The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the senator, her agents, privies, and associates from making further defamatory statements against Bello across television, radio, and other media platforms.

In addition, it awarded ₦1bn as general damages in favour of the former governor.

Reacting to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the judgment, insisting that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence she presented in her defence.

“I reject this judgment in its entirety. We presented substantial and credible evidence before the court, which, in our view, clearly justified our position. Unfortunately, these were not given due consideration,” she said.

The senator maintained that her comments were made in the public interest and not out of malice.

“My statements were based on information available at the time and were made in good faith, in the interest of accountability to the people of Kogi State,” she stated. “I firmly believe that the truth was not adequately reflected in the court’s findings.”

She further confirmed that her legal team has commenced the process of filing an appeal against the judgment.

“We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served,” she added.

Photo caption: Gov Siminalayi Fubara (fifth from left) in a group photograph with a cross section of traditional rulers at the meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday.

River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term to enable him continue the implementation of his “bold, daring and ambitious vision for the inclusive and sustainable development” of the country.

Governor Fubara gave the advice on Thursday while declaring open a meeting of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Gov Fubara and Ooni of Ife at the event.

He described President Tinubu as a “dedicated and highly patriotic” leader, who should be given a second chance, stressing that with him in the saddle, Nigerians should be rest assured that the nation is in safe hands.
He recalled the various achievements of the Tinubu administration in the last three years and projected that a lot more will be achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda, if Tinubu is re – elected in 2027.

“We are all witnesses to the transformation of our battered economy and the ongoing infrastructural revolution, including the remarkable coastal road project in the southern and other parts of the country in just three years.
“Although challenges remain in certain regions, we all trust in Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and dedication to safeguarding our nation, transforming the economy and delivering equitable development to all regions.
“In football, the saying goes that no coach changes a winning team. Therefore, Nigerians have no choice but to support President Tinubu at this crucial time and work together to re-elect him in 2027 to continue implementing his bold, daring and ambitious vision for the inclusive and sustainable development of our nation,” he said.
According to a statement by Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the River State Governor, while welcoming the royal fathers to the meeting, Fubara said their presence in Port Harcourt is a testament to the fact that Rivers State is very peaceful and ready to host high profile visits, meetings and events as well as a confirmation of the unity of the people of Southern Nigeria.
“Although we are ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse to some extent, the beauty lies in the fact that we are all committed to being part and parcel or an ever- indivisible Nigeria, despite our differences. As a region, we have a duty to build our future together and promote the collective interests of our people for a better life which we can achieve more rapidly through collaboration with the Federal Government.
“Similarly, southern cooperation and solidarity will offer a clearer and more practical pathway for sharing knowledge and ideas, working together to realise the common goals and aspirations of our people for sustainable peace, security, and development,” he said.
Governor Fubara who acknowledged the strategic position of the traditional rulers in Nigeria, stated that by being the closest to the grassroots, they serve as a link between the people and the government, wielding capacities and influence that extend beyond their ceremonial roles. He commended their commitment to peace and progress of southern Nigeria and urged them to stay vigilant and focused on pursuing their cultural, economic and political goals for the region and its people.
Fubara further charged the traditional rulers to dwell on productive discussions that will foster peace, security and progress in Southern Nigeria and the country at large.
The meeting which had in attendance traditional rulers from the South -South, South-East and South-West zones of Nigeria, was billed to discuss the roles of traditional institutions in promoting unity peace, cohesion and development across Southern Nigeria.
Among the royal fathers present at the meeting were the Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife; the Co- Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Obi Obinugwu;
Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the Eze Oha Apara IV and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, amongst others.