Kehinde Fajobi
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has shared insights on the emotional toll of being the first Nigerian incumbent to lose re-election, describing it as the toughest period of his political career.
Jonathan, who ran as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2015 general elections, spoke during the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja on Friday, hosted by DAAR Communications and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
Reflecting on the experience, he said, “It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You will think the whole world is against you.”
Jonathan detailed how he felt abandoned during that period but acknowledged the late Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications, for his support.
“Dokpesi invited me before I handed over,” Jonathan recalled. “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. That communication gave me hope, not only for the transition ahead but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen. If you read my book, My Transition Hours, I explained it more elaborately.”
Jonathan lost the 2015 election with 12.8 million votes to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 15.4 million votes.
The event also saw Minister of Information Idris Mohammed honouring Dokpesi’s legacy, urging Nigerians to cherish freedom of speech responsibly.
He said, “Our respect for freedom of speech is sacrosanct even as we continue to urge responsibility in the exercise of this freedom. Nigerians are free to speak about this dear country of ours.”
He further warned, “We will be making a grievous error if we focus only on what is not working. The media has an important role to play in strengthening this balanced approach. The late Dokpesi has played his part, and he did it in a way that he would never be forgotten.”
DAAR Communications Group Managing Director, Tony Akiotu, shared that Dokpesi passed away at 71 on May 29, 2023, after an accident during a routine treadmill exercise. Family, friends, and colleagues of Dokpesi gathered at the lecture to honour his life and legacy.