Former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to recent comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described him as a “decent” but “inexperienced” leader.
Atiku, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remark during a recent interview on Arise TV. He suggested that some of the challenges faced during Jonathan’s administration were linked to what he described as inadequate leadership preparation at the time.
Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) awards ceremony in Abuja, Jonathan addressed the criticism without directly naming Atiku.
He noted that political leaders are not immune to mistakes but rejected the idea that age should be the primary measure of leadership competence.
“So not too long ago, a very senior politician said Jonathan was too young and that was why he made mistakes,” he said.
“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.
“Must I be 100 years before I run the affairs of the state?
“If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate that process.”
Jonathan assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and went on to complete the term before winning a full term in 2011.