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Abdulazeez Abubakar
2 months ago
Overview
TODAY IN HISTORY: 10 years ago, Jonathan called Buhari to concede election defeat
On March 31, 2015, precisely a decade ago, a brief telephone conversation altered Nigeria’s political landscape and reinforced its democratic values. The days leading to the 2015 general election were intense, with political permutations, strong rhetoric, predictions, doomsday prophesies, and pockets of unrest. Most political observers believed the election would either balkanise or strengthen the country, depending on the outcome. The international community had its eyes fixed on Nigeria. Everyone waited with bated breath.
The majority of the results from the presidential election had been announced, with @MBuhari leading by nearly three million votes. In a gesture that surprised many, while the final results had not been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jonathan called Buhari, his rival, to congratulate him.
This historic moment was not just about the transfer of political authority; the call marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that a sitting president had willingly and publicly acknowledged electoral defeat by reaching out directly to his opponent, ending 16 years of one-party dominance by the PDP.
Guided by his stance that his ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian, @GEJonathan made the call against advice from his circle, many of whom wanted him to contest the results.
