Atiku: “Was I Expected To Be 100?” — Goodluck Jonathan Responds To Claims Of Inexperience

According to Ireporter Online, former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to comments made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding his time in office, particularly claims suggesting that inexperience affected his performance as Nigeria’s leader.

Atiku, during a live television interview, had described Jonathan as a “decent young man” but argued that his perceived lack of experience contributed to governance challenges during his presidency.

Reacting to the remarks at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable in leadership but maintained that they do not define a leader’s capacity or overall performance.

The former president stated that no individual who has served as governor or president can claim to be entirely free of errors, adding that leadership experience is shaped by real-time decisions and responsibilities. He also questioned the criticism of his age during his tenure, noting that he assumed office in 2010 at the age of 53 and left in 2015 at 58, asking rhetorically whether national leadership should require extreme age before competence is recognized.

Jonathan further defended his record in office, insisting that he did his best in managing the affairs of the country despite challenges. He also pointed to Nigeria’s diplomatic milestones under his administration, including the country’s election into the United Nations Security Council on two occasions, which he cited as evidence of effective international engagement.

He maintained that such achievements would not have been possible without competence in navigating complex global processes, stressing that leadership should be judged holistically rather than through isolated criticisms.