On Friday, former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan addressed his 2015 presidential election loss, while recounting his challenges after the loss.
Identifying it as one of the most haunting experience of his political life, the political icon recounted the heart wretching emotions he felt after the result. He recalled that the moment the result fell against him, he felt like the entire world was against him, however, his private discussion with a respected status, quenched the pain.
The ex-president made this statement during the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, organized by Daar Communications in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
In 2014, Jonathan, who represented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after he bagged a staggering number of 15,424,921 votes which is way ahead of Jonathan’s 12,853,162.
The election emerged to be the first democratic downplay in the history of Nigeria ‘where an incumbent president lost a re-election bid.’
Uttering further his emotion, Jonathan admitted to experiencing deep emotional struggle during that period, confessing that the pain was difficult to restrain.
He bidded his gratitude to the role exempted played by Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of Daar Communications, who calmed his nerves with words.
His words:
“It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You will think the whole world is against you. But then, Dokpesi invited me before I handed over. I remember what he said to me when I lost the election.”
“There were so many senior Nigerians (elder statesmen) who spoke. After I listened to all the conversations, he congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election. This is how I commemorated that session.”
“That communication gave me hope and helped me not necessarily for the transition hour ahead of me but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen. If you read my book, My Transition Hours, I explain it more elaborately”
Nigerians has stormed their social media handles to react to his revelation via their views.
