What Jonathan told me after conceding defeat - Ita Giwa

- Jonathan's adviser revealed how and why ex-president Jonathan conceded defeat in the 2015 presidential election

- Ita-Giwa remains loyal to the PDP, but supports Buhari


Buhari received phone call from Jonathan before INEC announced official results of the elections.

Florence Ita-Giwa, a former presidential adviser on the National Assembly matters, has spoken about her chat with the former president Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 presidential poll.

Ex-president, the aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

Ita-Giwa in the interview with Daily Post disclosed her conversation with former country's head after he conceded defeat.

She said: “I called former president, Jonathan and told him, ‘why not wait till the result is declared before conceding?’

“This was two minutes after he made the announcement.

“Responding, he said, ‘Aunty, I already know what the outcome would be. I have done the right thing. I am keeping to my word that no blood is worth my ambition.

“I said to him, ‘You are great indeed’. He thanked me for my call.”

“I don’t regret supporting him, but we thank God for the peace and unity of the country.”

Jonathan's aide also reacted to the spate of defections from the opposition to the now ruling party.

The politician said she will not leave the PDP, adding: “You can support the president without defecting to his party. Many are doing this for what they can gain.”

“I remain in PDP but will support good policies of the present government.”

Ita-Giwa praised the nation’s media for the resilience over the years, advising them to continue to be the voice of the people.

Nigerians and the international community continue to praise Jonathan for conceding defeat to his main challenger in the March 28 presidential election.

The historic concession telephone call defused tension across Nigeria and has thrown up the former president Goodluck Jonathan as a national hero.

That chat is considered to have saved Nigeria from descending into violence in the aftermath of the election.