Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has opened up about his emotional experience following his 2015 election defeat, describing it as a trying period where he felt isolated and thought the whole world was against him.
Speaking at the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja, Jonathan reflected on his feelings after losing his re-election bid. “It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You will think the whole world is against you,” he remarked.
His book, My Transition Hours, provides a deeper look into his experience transitioning out of office.
In the 2015 election, Jonathan sought a second term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), making him the first sitting Nigerian president to lose a re-election bid.
Despite the loss, Jonathan made headlines by graciously conceding and congratulating Buhari even before the official results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At Friday’s event, Jonathan recounted how Raymond Dokpesi, the late media mogul, provided much-needed support after the loss, giving him hope and encouragement to move forward. Dokpesi invited Jonathan before he handed over and offered words of encouragement, saying, “After I listened to all the conversations, he congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election”.
