Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed how he was advised against accepting defeat in the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan also declared that the election was marred with some
irregularities, including the difficulty he faced before he could vote
in his native Otuoke, Bayelsa State home.
The ex-president said he conceded defeat principally because it was
his belief that his ambition should not lead to loss of lives and
property as it was the case in previous elections.
The revelations are contained in the former President’s book, “My
Transition Hours”, which was presented in Abuja yesterday on his 61st
birthday.
Jonathan said he turned down the advice by the then Minister of
Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala; Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister
Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, who was a compere
at the book launch; and his Senior Special Assistant on Domestic
Affairs, Warpamowei Dudafa.
He writes: “They were recommending sundry alternatives, but I was
quiet in the midst of their discussions. I hugged my thought, figuring
out how to do that which was best for the country. My personal interest
was receding rapidly and the interest of Nigeria looming large. I
excused myself and left the sitting room. I walked into my study. Even
there, my mantra was a strong circle around me, supporting and
comforting me. Let the country survive. Let democracy survive. My
political ambition is not worth people being ‘soaked in blood’.”
On how and why he called to concede victory to Buhari, he wrote:
“More results flowed in and I could not wait anymore. The announcement
of the final result could take issues out of all our hands. It was time
for me to take action and bring peace to the nation. I felt I was
destined by God at that point in time to inject the peace serum and
douse the palpable tension in the country.
“I reached out for his telephone and placed a call through the State
House operators at about 4:45pm. A peace I had never felt since my
political sojourn descended on me. It showed me where I had been in the
past sixteen years and where I was then. I smiled at the thought of what
I was about to do. I waited calmly for the person at the end of my call
to answer.
“My Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, sought my permission to tweet
my phone conversation with Buhari. I obliged and he did. The country was
no longer waiting for the declaration of the election results. The
nationwide tension automatically dissipated as through a red hot piece
of iron had been dipped in a bowl of water. Thereafter, I addressed the
nation.”