Guardian / Nigeria: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday clarified that nobody either within or outside Nigeria compelled him to concede defeat in the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan made the statement at the 2nd combined convocation ceremony of Bingham University, Nasarawa State.
The former president and an ex-military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon were honored with the Doctor of Letters (Honaris Causa) by the university.
While the former military head of state, Gowon was awarded the degree by the university in “recognition of his commitment and selflessness to Nigeria, Africa and humanity, former President Jonathan was honoured by the Senate of the university in recognition of his self-abasement and prized patriotic humility and love for peace.”
Jonathan maintained that he called Buhari to concede defeat out of his personal principle and conviction that no blood of any Nigerian was worth his political ambition.
He reminded Nigerians that, that singular act he exhibited had already started having effects on global politics as world leaders now willingly concede defeats to their opponents when they lose elections.
“It is my belief that no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian and I am fulfilled knowing that by conceding while the votes were still being compiled was borne out of my personal principle and conviction. It is generating positive impact on other nations.”
“Let me make it very, very clear, nobody within or outside the country persuaded me to do that. I know it is the right thing to do. My ambition is not worth the blood of Nigerians. It was not just a political slogan,” he stressed.
On the 2014 National Conference, Jonathan said he convened the conference to help unite the country together and avoid the creation of tension and crisis in the polity.
“One of the reasons why I convened the 2014 National Conference was to come up with a polity devoid of tension and crisis, a polity that will bring unity to this country. A polity that will not divide us along tribal, ethnic, and religious lines.
“I have seen politicians, whose children school and live abroad mobilise children of others as thugs during elections. They don’t care whether they die or not. This is against human dignity. And we should uphold our vows as a nation of great people who love and respect one another.
