News

‘Felt Like World Was Against Me’ – Jonathan Recounts Losing 2015 Polls As Incumbent

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2024

Editor

…says late Dokpesi stood by me in those trying moments

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has opened up on how he felt being the first incumbent Nigerian President to lose re-election.

The former President, who ran as the candidate of the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled lost to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, described the period as the toughest in his political life.

He said it felt like the whole world was against him.

Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Friday at the 1st Raymond Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture organised by the management of Daar Communications, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR

Jonathan, who ran on the platform of PDP, polled 12,853,162 million votes to place second behind his main challenger, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who won the election with 15,424,921 million votes.

‘What I went through…’
A relaxed Jonathan revealed that he passed through inexplicable emotional turmoil. He described feeling abandoned.

The ex-President recalled the fatherly role played by the late Chairman of Daar Communications, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, who stood by him all through his ordeal.

Jonathan said: “It is not easy to lose an election as a president. You will think the whole world is against you.

“But then, Dokpesi invited me before I handed over. I remember what he said to me when I lost the election.

“There were so many senior Nigerians (elder statesmen) who spoke. After I listened to all the conversations, he congratulated me and encouraged me to look beyond the election.

“This is how I commemorated that session.

“That communication gave me hope and helped me, not necessarily for the transition hour ahead of me, but also in my spiritual life as a private citizen.

“If you read my book, ‘My Transition Hours’, I explained it more elaborately.”

Tributes
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, paid glowing tributes to the late Dokpesi and enjoined Nigerians to cherish the freedom of speech they currently enjoy.

Mohammed said: “Our respect for freedom of speech is sacrosanct even as we continue to urge responsibility in the exercise of this freedom. Nigerians are free to speak about this dear country of ours.

“What we can and will continue to do is to avoid getting to the point where reckless negativity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.

“We will be making a grievous error individually and collectively if we choose to focus only on what is not working and not balance it with equal attention to the things we are getting right.

“And we are getting a lot of things right as a nation even in our present circumstances.

“The media has an important role to play in strengthening this balanced approach through your reportage as shepherds and drivers of public opinions.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.