Jonathan who was the incumbent president during the 2015 presidential election said he has no regret for conceding to Buhari up to this moment.
Jonathan said this while responding to a question by TheCable on whether he regrets conceding the election in 2015, considering some unsavory developments in the past four years.
His words: “Let me thank the young man (Fredrick Nwabufo) from Nigeria for asking me that direct question. Let me put it very clearly. If I have the opportunity in a similar circumstance, I will do exactly the same thing,” he said at the constitutional term limits summit in Naimey, Niger.
“I always say that if you want to take a public office you should be ready to make personal sacrifices. If you are not ready to help people, then you have no business going into politics.
“What we should also know the process of building a society. People die in the process of building a society.
“I have no regret up to this time, no matter the circumstances, I have no regret because what I did will continue to shape political discussions, not only in Nigeria but across the continent.
“Some people may not appreciate it, but as we continue to strengthen democracy, people will begin to look at conducts that are acceptable and some that are not.
“If the little contribute I have made will help to improve our democracy in the country and on the continent, yes, I will do the same thing again.
“Some people raise the issue of people around the president, how do you manage them because there is a tendency for such people to influence the president negatively.
“A classical example is what happened in the Gambia. There was a former military head of state who became a civilian president. He now encouraged election. When that election was to take place, people thought he would manipulate the system. Somehow he lost the election, and the voting margin was very narrow, but he conceded that election.
READ ALSO: Jonathan Calls For Reform Of Local Government System
“But the chairman of the political party that won the election issued a statement threatening to probe Jammeh. And the man was afraid. ‘ I’m still sitting here and they want to probe me already. Ok, let’s fight’. He said he was no longer going to accept defeat.
“So people around a president can really cause a crisis. Remember in my book, during that transition period people around wanted to collapse the beautiful thing we were doing.
“Buhari and I were in talks. And when the issue came up, I called him and we resolved it and we moved on. I agree people around a president can make one suggestion or the other that can influence him negatively.
“People like that will always be there. But a president must be ready to resist from being pushed to a direction they don’t want to go.”
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.
