Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan spoke on Friday about losing the 2015 presidential election, stating, “It was a tough moment in my political life.”
Jonathan made the statement in Abuja during the first Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, which was organized by Daar Communications Plc’s management in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
The former president stated that he was emotional when he found out the results of the polls, stating that it felt like the entire world was against him.
Jonathan, who campaigned on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) platform, received 12,853,162 million votes, trailing only his major competitor, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 15,424,921 million votes.
He also described the fatherly role that Daar Communications’ founding chairman, Aleho Chief Raymond Dokpesi, played before officially handing over to Buhari.
He said, “It is difficult to lose an election as president. You’ll think the entire world is against you.
“However, Dokpesi invited me before I gave over. I remember what he said to me after I lost the election.
“There were several senior Nigerians (elder statesmen) who addressed.
“After listening to all of the talks, he praised me and pushed me to think beyond the election. This was how I commemorated the session.
“That connection gave me hope and supported me not just throughout the transition period, but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen. If you read my book, My Transition Hours, I explain it more thoroughly.”
Earlier, in his remarks, Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed Malaga paid glowing honors to the late Dokpesi and urged Nigerians to embrace the freedom of speech they now have.
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He stated, “Our appreciation for free speech is unwavering, even as we continue to emphasize the importance of exercising this freedom responsibly. Nigerians have the freedom to express themselves about their beloved country.
“What we can and shall do is prevent irresponsible negativity from becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“We will make a grave mistake, both individually and collectively, if we choose to focus solely on what isn’t working and not pay equal attention to what is working.
“And, despite our current circumstances, we are doing a lot of things well as a nation.
“The media, as shepherds and drivers of public opinion, can help to reinforce this balanced approach through your reporting.
“The late Dokpesì has played his part, and he did it in a way that he would never be forgotten.”
