26th May, 2015
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday urged Nigeria’s president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to accept the contribution of all Nigerians for the progress and development of the country.
Jonathan stated this after he was honoured with another award of ‘Peace Loving Global Citizen’ for his decision to accept the result of the 2015 presidential poll.
The award was presented to the President by the Universal Peace Federation(UPF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Jonathan urged the incoming administration to accept the contributions of all Nigerians to the progress and development of the country.
“We have a country, the country will be more united. I believe and only pray that the incoming government should appreciate the contributions of everybody and see how we will run Nigeria as a country that belongs to everybody and all citizens irrespective political persuasion.”
While commending the group for the honour, Jonathan said Vice-President Namadi Sambo also deserved the honour, saying that his singular act of accepting defeat in the election also affected him.
“My singular act has made you now to come and honour us, not just me, I ran the election with the Vice President and if we have won, two of us would have been here but by that act, two of us are packing out on Friday, he equally deserves the encomium that you have given me.
“My party, the PDP also deserves the encomium award.”
The president stated that he took the decision to accept the result of the election because there must be a nation first before any ambition.
“I use to say that even if I will be President for the next 25 years, I will not be a happy person if so many people die because of me.
“One thing is to hold office, another thing is to be able to satisfy your conscience,”
According to him, when he leaves office, the remaining part of his life will be dedicated to issues that would bring unity and peace to the country.
Speaking earlier, leader of the group, Chief Mike Ozekhome, said that Jonathan had attracted global recognition considering his decision to accept the defeat in the just concluded election.
According to him, Nigeria is now respected in the comity of nations not only because of Jonathan’s achievements but because of his decision to accept the result of the election.
Ozekhome stated that by Jonathan’s singular act, he had snatched victory from defeat.