Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed the emotional challenges he faced after losing the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, describing the period as one of the most trying moments of his political journey.
Jonathan opened up about his experience while speaking at the inaugural Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja. Hosted by DAAR Communications in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the event offered a rare opportunity for the former leader to share insights into the personal cost of transitioning out of office.
Reflecting on the weight of the defeat, Jonathan said it felt as though “the whole world” had turned against him. He explained that the emotional strain was intense, leaving him feeling isolated and uncertain about the future.
“It is not easy to lose an election as a president,” Jonathan admitted. “You will think the whole world is against you. But then, Dokpesi invited me before I handed over. I remember what he said to me when I lost the election.”
Jonathan recounted that media mogul Raymond Dokpesi reached out to offer encouragement during the challenging transition. Recalling the moment, Jonathan shared, “There were so many senior Nigerians, elder statesmen, who spoke. After I listened to all the conversations, he [Dokpesi] congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election. That communication gave me hope—not only for the transition hours ahead but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen.”
Jonathan’s words highlight the profound personal toll that comes with high-stakes political life, and the often-overlooked emotional resilience required of national leaders.
His concession to Buhari, a historic moment marking Nigeria’s first peaceful transfer of power from an incumbent to an opposition candidate, drew praise domestically and internationally. However, it also ended Jonathan’s five-year tenure in office, with Buhari winning by a margin of over 2.5 million votes, securing 15,424,921 to Jonathan’s 12,853,162 votes.
Credit: TheNiche
