CATL Fires Back at Atiku, Defends Jonathan’s Legacy as “Proven Leadership, Not Inexperience”

The Citizens Alliance for Transparent Leadership (CATL) has strongly criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakarover remarks it says misrepresent the legacy of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group’s reaction follows Atiku’s recent claim that Jonathan’s presidency was shaped by “inexperience,” which he linked to the former president’s defeat in the 2015 general election. Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, suggested that Jonathan’s leadership shortcomings contributed to his loss at the polls.

In a statement jointly signed by its convener, Musa Ibrahim, and publicity secretary, Oghenekaro Samuel, CATL dismissed the claim as “not just wrong, but mischievous.”

The organisation argued that Jonathan’s rise through Nigeria’s political ranks—from deputy governor to governor, vice-president, and eventually acting president during a critical period—demonstrates substantial governance experience.

“To describe that trajectory as inexperience is either a deliberate distortion or a fundamental misunderstanding of leadership,” the statement read.

CATL also questioned Atiku’s basis for criticism, pointing out that while Jonathan’s leadership was tested at the highest level, Atiku has not held the office of president.

“It is striking that someone whose experience is largely defined by repeated ambition would attempt to diminish the record of a leader whose competence was tested in office, under pressure, and in full public view,” the group added.

Highlighting Jonathan’s time in office, CATL pointed to key reforms and milestones, including the rebasing of Nigeria’s economy, reforms in the power sector, efforts to curb corruption in agriculture, and renewed investment in rail and road infrastructure.

“Under Dr. Jonathan, Nigeria did not drift—it advanced,” the statement noted, describing these achievements as “verifiable milestones.”

The group further emphasised Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat after the 2015 Nigerian presidential election, calling it a defining moment for democracy in Nigeria.

“When faced with the choice between personal power and national peace, Dr. Jonathan chose Nigeria,” CATL stated, describing the concession as one of the most significant democratic acts on the continent.

Accusing Atiku of attempting to “rewrite a lived national experience,” CATL insisted that Nigerians remain aware of the realities of Jonathan’s administration.

“To reduce that legacy to ‘inexperience’ is not only ironic but an attempt to gaslight a nation that witnessed and benefited from those years,” the group said.

The organisation concluded by stressing that leadership should be evaluated based on measurable outcomes rather than rhetoric.

“If experience is the argument, the distinction is clear: one leader has a record open to scrutiny, while the other presents a history of repeated attempts,” the statement added.

CATL maintained that Jonathan’s legacy remains firmly grounded in policy achievements, economic growth, and contributions to democratic stability, insisting that “no amount of political revisionism can erase it.”