Former President Goodluck Jonathan reflected on his experience of losing the 2015 presidential election during the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture on Friday.
Running under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 15,424,921 votes compared to Jonathan’s 12,853,162 votes.
This election was notable as it marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that an incumbent president lost a re-election bid.
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Jonathan described the loss as one of the most challenging moments of his political career, recalling the emotional wave he felt upon hearing the election results, as if the entire world had turned against him.
He also recognized the supportive role of the late Raymond Dokpesi, then Chairman of Daar Communications, during his transition of power to Buhari.
He said, “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.”
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