Presidency takes responsibility for Jonathan’s loss
By Isiaka Wakili
The Presidency takes responsibility for the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe has said.
Okupe, in a statement yesterday, said the Presidency appreciated its supporters’ steadfastness and love.
“To millions who believed in and stood by us, we take responsibility for this loss and express our deepest appreciation for your steadfastness, love and support. We pray that we all take heart and look up to God for comfort and Solace. He is sovereign, and the only wise God, who gives power to whom he wishes when he wishes”, he said.
He said though Jonathan, as “a very good, humble and great man of immense capacity” lost the election, the Presidency believed that “God must have approved it, hence we accept it as gallant men of faith and as patriotic Nigerians and true democrats”.
The presidential aide said “for the citizens of this great country, Nigeria, we pray for an era of true, real and meaningful change”.
Okupe noted that the Presidency was grateful to God that Jonathan’s good work was recognised by a large number of Nigerians in the end.
He said the Presidency also wished the president-elect, retired General Muhammadu Buhari and his incoming administration a successful and beneficial tenure.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has done, once again, an unprecedented act in Nigeria. As a seating president with immense powers at his disposal, he has respected the voice of the people and willingly and freely surrendered power. In a magnanimous manner, common only amongst true democrats, he accepted defeat and congratulated the winner even while the final collation ws still on. President Jonathan, by this singular act, stands shoulder taller than most leaders of his generation and even those before his time.
“This was a character which some of us who close to him saw and were prepared to serve and support him with all the goodness and virtues God has deposited in us. On my part, if all these were to be repeated and knowing that this would be the outcome, I’d still have backed President Jonathan 100% all the way. Goodluck Jonathan has proved that he is a great statesman, perhaps our very best, and certainly, one of Africa’s greatest leaders of all times”, said.
Okupe congratulated Buhari and acknowledged that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu is his brother and friend.
“Let me congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his success at the 2015 presidential polls. I equally congratulate my friend and brother, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the APC national leader, and the leaders and members of the APC for this historic success”, he stated.