Goodluck Jonathan Responds to Atiku Abubakar's Claims of Inexperience

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has issued a response to remarks made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently stated that Jonathan was an inexperienced leader during his time as president.

Atiku, in a previous interview, had attributed some of the challenges faced during Jonathan's administration to his perceived lack of experience. He was quoted as saying, “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."

Speaking on Monday, April 20, at the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan addressed these sentiments without explicitly naming Atiku. He questioned the notion that his age or tenure equated to inexperience.

"So not too long ago, a very senior politician said Jonathan was too young and that was why he made mistakes. 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,” Jonathan stated.

He further elaborated on the timeline of his presidency, noting that he assumed office in 2010 at the age of 53 and concluded his term in 2015 at 58. He posed the question, “Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?"

Jonathan asserted that his administration achieved significant results despite facing considerable challenges. He pointed to Nigeria's diplomatic successes during his leadership, including securing a seat on the United Nations Security Council, as evidence of his capacity to govern.

"If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate that process,” he remarked.

This exchange comes as Atiku Abubakar is reportedly preparing to contest for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku had previously assessed other potential aspirants, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, characterizing their political influence as predominantly regional.

Meanwhile, Jonathan used his address to emphasize the broader issue of political instability as a significant impediment to economic progress across West Africa.

"We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he concluded.