I have no Regrets Conceding Defeat – Jonathan

Former president Goodluck Jonathan says he has no regret conceding the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 .

The ex-president says he will do it again under the same circumstance if he has the opportunity – According to Jonathan, what he did in 2015 will continue to shape political discussions across the continent Former president Goodluck Jonathan has said he has no regret conceding the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, saying he would do it again under the same circumstance if he has the opportunity. Jonathan said what he did would continue to shape political discussions, not only in Nigeria but across the continent, The Cable reports. Legit.ng gathers that the former president said taking up a public office comes with the readiness of making personal sacrifices, adding that if one cannot be ready to make sacrifices, then such person has no business going into politics.

He said: “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 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 the tendency for such people to influence the president negatively.”

According to Jonathan, a president must be ready to resist being pushed to a direction they don’t want to go.

He said: “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.” (NAN)