- Former President Goodluck Jonathan spoke at the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, organized by Daar Communications and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
- Jonathan described the 2015 presidential election defeat as one of the most challenging moments of his political career.
- He expressed feeling as though the world had turned against him following the loss.
- The ex-president credited Raymond Dokpesi for his support during the transition to Buhari, recalling a conversation where Dokpesi congratulated him and encouraged him to move forward.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan shared poignant reflections on his 2015 presidential election defeat during the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture on Friday.
Organized by Daar Communications in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the event provided a platform for Jonathan to recount what he described as one of the most challenging periods of his political career.
Jonathan recalled the overwhelming emotions he experienced upon receiving the election results, likening it to a moment when he felt as though the entire world had turned against him.
Representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jonathan lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 15,424,921 votes, compared to Jonathan’s 12,853,162.
The 2015 election was historic, marking the first time in Nigeria’s history that an incumbent president was defeated in a re-election bid.
With a reflective smile, Jonathan spoke of the deep emotional struggle he faced during that time, expressing that the pain was challenging to articulate.
He credited Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Communications, with offering critical support during his transition of power to Buhari.
“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,” the former president said.
While many senior statesmen reached out to him following the election, Jonathan noted that it was Dokpesi’s congratulatory message and words of encouragement that resonated the most.
“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,” he added.
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