Former President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the comments made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who in a recent interview said he lacked the experience to lead Nigeria when he was in office.
Atiku during an interview blamed him Goodluck for the shortcomings he faced during his time in office.
‘’“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” Atiku had said
Speaking on Monday, April 20, at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan did not mention Atiku by name but left little doubt about the target of his remarks, according to Nigerian business news
“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.”
The former president questioned the basis of the “inexperience” claim, noting that he assumed office in 2010 at the age of 53 and left in 2015 at 58.
“Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?” he asked.
Jonathan maintained that, despite challenges, his administration delivered results, pointing in particular to Nigeria’s diplomatic gains during his tenure, including its election to the United Nations Security Council.
“If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate that process,” he said.
Atiku, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections, had also downplayed the political strength of other aspirants, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, describing their influence as largely regional.
Jonathan, however, used the platform to broaden the conversation, warning that political instability remains a major obstacle to economic development across West Africa.
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically” he said