Former President Goodluck Jonathan shared his heartfelt reflections on the challenges he faced after losing the 2015 presidential election, describing it as one of the toughest moments of his political career.
Speaking at the 1st Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja on Friday, Jonathan expressed the deep emotional turmoil he experienced upon learning the election results.
“It felt as if the whole world was against me,” he admitted, recalling the overwhelming feelings he faced after the defeat.
Jonathan further reflected on the support he received during this challenging time, particularly from Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of Daar Communications. He recounted how Dokpesi played a fatherly role, inviting him for a conversation before he officially handed over power to Buhari.
“It is not easy to lose an election as a president,” Jonathan said. He recounted how, after listening to the words of various senior Nigerians, Dokpesi congratulated him and encouraged him to look beyond the election.
“This communication gave me hope and helped me not only for the transition ahead but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen,” he added.
Jonathan, representing the Peoples Democratic Party, lost the 2015 election to Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress. Buhari received 15,424,921 votes, while the former president finished second with 12,853,162 votes. This election was significant as it marked the first instance of an incumbent president losing re-election in Nigeria.