Jonathan Fires Back at Atiku: Age Does Not Define Leadership, Former President Declares
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has fired back at criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, challenging the notion that age defines leadership competence.
The response followed remarks made by Atiku during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise TV, where he described Jonathan as inexperienced while reflecting on previous administrations.
The comments have since reignited political discourse, particularly as early alignments begin to emerge ahead of future electoral cycles.
Speaking Monday in Abuja at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony, Jonathan addressed the criticism directly, defending his tenure and asserting that leadership inevitably involves errors.
“So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes,’” he said.
Jonathan acknowledged that mistakes may have occurred during his presidency but emphasised that no leader governs without challenges or lapses, regardless of age or experience.
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity,” he added.
He further posed a rhetorical question that resonated with attendees. “All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”
PulseNets learnt that Jonathan’s remarks reflect growing resistance among political actors to narratives that revisit past administrations primarily for strategic positioning ahead of elections.
Earlier, Atiku had not only criticised Jonathan but also assessed other key political figures as he pursues a presidential ticket under the African Democratic Congress. PulseNets reported that contenders within the party include Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
During the interview, Atiku also evaluated the political weight of his potential rivals. He downplayed the influence of Kwankwaso and Aminu Tambuwal in the North, suggested that Obi’s support base remains largely within the South-East, and limited Amaechi’s reach to the South-South region.
In addition, Atiku expressed dissatisfaction with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding further intensity to the evolving political debate.
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Jonathan, however, maintained a focus on the realities of governance, stressing that leadership is inherently complex and demands difficult decisions.
He noted that while criticism is inevitable in politics, it should be weighed against the context and pressures leaders face while in office.
