Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday recalled the challenging experience of losing the 2015 presidential election, which he described as one of the toughest moments in his political career.
He also praised Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of Daar Communications, for the guidance and support he offered during that period, before Jonathan officially handed over to his successor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Jonathan shared these reflections during the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, held by Daar Communications in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja.
Running under the Peoples Democratic Party, Jonathan lost the 2015 election to Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Recounting that time, he said, “It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You feel as if the whole world is against you. But Dokpesi invited me over before the handover. I remember his words of encouragement after I lost the election.”
Jonathan continued, “There were several elder statesmen who spoke that day. After listening to their perspectives, Dokpesi congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election. That communication gave me hope—not just for the transition ahead but also for my own spiritual life as a private citizen. I detailed more about this moment in my book, My Transition Hours.”
In a separate address during the event, Minister of Information Idris Mohammed encouraged Nigerians to exercise freedom of speech responsibly. “Our respect for freedom of speech is sacrosanct, but we urge responsibility in exercising this freedom. Nigerians are free to speak about our country, yet we must avoid crossing into reckless negativity that could ultimately harm us,” he stated.
