“I felt like the world was against me when I lost election in 2015” – Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan

• Raymond Dokpesi, a late media mogul, was honored at the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja, organized by Daar Communications and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

• Jonathan, former Nigerian president from 2010-2015, experienced intense feelings of isolation after losing his re-election bid in 2015. He was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election, becoming the first sitting Nigerian president to lose a re-election bid.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan discussed his emotional journey following his defeat in the 2015 elections.

During the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture, held in Abuja on Friday, October 25, and organized by Daar Communications in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the event paid tribute to the late media entrepreneur Raymond Dokpesi, who passed away in May 2023.

Jonathan, who held the presidency from 2010 to 2015, expressed the profound sense of isolation he experienced after losing his bid for re-election.. “It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You will think the whole world is against you,” he stated. In the 2015 elections, he sought a second term under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking him as the first sitting Nigerian president to lose a re-election.

Notably, despite his defeat, Jonathan garnered attention for his dignified concession and for congratulating Buhari even prior to the official announcement of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At the event, he reminisced about the vital support he received from Dokpesi after his loss, which provided him with hope and encouragement to move forward.

Jonathan recounted, “Dokpesi invited me before I handed over. I remember what he said to me when I lost the election… After I listened to all the conversations, he congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election.” He noted that Dokpesi’s advice not only facilitated the transition process but also offered him spiritual fortitude as he adjusted to life as a private citizen.

These reflections were later elaborated upon in his book, My Transition Hours, which delves into his experiences during the transition out of office.