President
Muhammadu Buhari did not mince words in extolling the “statesmanship
and sportsmanship” of his immediate predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan,
at the launch of the
President Buhari, who at the book launch was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, foretold that Jonathan will rise again as his
best days were still ahead.
The President lauded Jonathan for the singular act of relinquishing power to him after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that he had lost the election to
him. Buhari also said with the launch of ‘My Transition Hours’, Nigerians, historians and scholars can now have a first-hand account of what transpired during the 2015 election.
“I want to openly as I have done on several occasions salute the statesmanship, sportsmanship and courage embodied in the person of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who in 2015
without any pressure willingly conceded victory to me even when collation of result was still in progress,” said Buhari.
“Your Excellency, your singular act of placing a call to me doused and calmed frayed nerves all over the country and I sincerely thank you for being a true democrat and a patriotic
Nigerian,” he said.
President Buhari also praised Jonathan for standing by his word that no blood of any Nigerian was worth what he wanted from politics.
He said, “To underscore his desire for peace and nonviolence, Jonathan kept reiterating that no Nigerian blood should be shed for his ambition. With this book being launched today
(yesterday), Nigerians, historians and scholars now have a first-hand account and an insight into what transpired during the transition hours.
“It is difficult for any citizen to imagine what went through the mind of Dr. Jonathan during those lonely lone hours when varieties of counsels for and against were being offered.
History has recorded your time as Nigerian’s fifth democratically elected leader since independence. History will judge you well as a patriotic leader.
“That underscores the reason why this administration amongst others remains committed to the service of the nation by completing even projects started by the first dispensation of
the current dispensation,” he said.
“In approximately 88 days from today Nigerians will be exercising their civic duty of electing new leaders in another general elections. I call on all political leaders to see elections as a
contest based on principles, programmes and aspirations that will uplift the nation. Elections should never become a declaration of war, rather it should cement our brotherliness and
nationhood,” said the president.
