Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday reflected on his emotional experience following his loss in the 2015 presidential election, describing it as a difficult chapter in his political life.
Speaking at the 1st Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja, organised by DAAR Communications and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Jonathan admitted that the loss felt overwhelming, as if “the whole world was against” him.
Jonathan, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Buhari polled 15,424,921 votes, while Jonathan secured 12,853,162 votes. It was the first time an incumbent president lost re-election in Nigeria.
Smiling as he recounted his experience, Jonathan acknowledged the fatherly role played by the late Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications, after the election.
“It’s not easy to lose an election as president. You feel like the whole world is against you,” he said. “Dokpesi invited me before I handed over, and I remember what he told me. Many elder statesmen spoke that day, but his words encouraged me to look beyond the election.”
Jonathan added that Dokpesi’s support gave him hope, not just for the transition process but also for his spiritual journey as a private citizen. “If you read my book ‘My Transition Hours’, I explain this experience in more detail,” he noted.
In his remarks at the event, Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, urged Nigerians to exercise free speech responsibly. He praised Dokpesi as a patriot and urged others to follow his example in fostering national unity.
“Our respect for freedom of speech is sacred, but we must avoid reckless negativity that could become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Mohammed said. “The media plays a vital role in shaping public opinion, and we must strike a balance between acknowledging challenges and highlighting our successes.”
Dokpesi, a renowned media figure, passed away on May 29, 2023. According to DAAR Communications’ Group Managing Director, Tony Akiotu, Dokpesi had been ill for weeks before his death and collapsed while using his treadmill during a routine workout.
