Former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded sharply to criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, questioning the concept age determines management skill.
The response comes after Atiku, throughout an look on Prime Time on Come up TV, described Jonathan as inexperienced whereas reflecting on previous administrations.
His feedback have since stirred recent political debate, particularly as alignments start to form forward of future elections.
Talking on Monday in Abuja on the 2025 Affiliation of Retired Profession Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony, Jonathan addressed the remarks straight. He defended his time in workplace and insisted that errors are a part of management.
“So not too way back, a really senior politician stated, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too younger and doubtless that’s why he made errors,’” he stated.
Jonathan didn’t deny that errors could have occurred throughout his presidency. Nevertheless, he burdened that no chief governs with out challenges or missteps, no matter expertise or age.
“If I made errors, sure, no one who turns into a governor or a president will say you didn’t make errors. Even while you promote your self to the extent of a god, you turn out to be a deity,” he added.
The previous president then posed a rhetorical query that drew consideration from the viewers. “All human beings should make errors. I turned president in 2010 on the age of 53. I left in 2015 on the age of 58, they usually say I used to be too younger. Should it have been 100 years earlier than I ran the affairs of the state?”
Jonathan’s response seems to push again towards what many see as a rising development of political figures revisiting previous administrations to attain factors forward of future contests.
Earlier, Atiku had not solely criticised Jonathan but additionally weighed in on different political figures. He’s at present searching for a presidential ticket below the African Democratic Congress, the place he’s competing with notable names together with Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Throughout the interview, Atiku additionally assessed the power of his potential rivals. He downplayed the affect of Kwankwaso and Aminu Tambuwal within the North. He recommended Obi’s help stays largely inside the South-East. He additionally restricted Amaechi’s political power to the South-South area.
As well as, Atiku expressed dissatisfaction with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, including one other layer to the continued political discourse.
Jonathan, nevertheless, stored his give attention to management realities. He maintained that governance is complicated and that each administration should navigate tough choices.
He famous that whereas criticisms are anticipated in politics, they need to be balanced with an understanding of the circumstances leaders face whereas in workplace.