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The audio file of the historic conversation between President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, during which the former conceded defeat in Saturday’s presidential election, has been made public.
With presidential election results from all but one of Nigeria’s 36 states counted, and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, clearly in unassailable lead, President Jonathan had telephoned Mr. Buhari to concede defeat.
President Jonathan made the call a little past 5P.M. on Monday after it became clear his party had lost the election.
At the time the call was made, the Independent National Electoral Commission was yet to declare Mr. Buhari winner because it was still expecting results from Nigeria’s remote Borno State.
By the time the Borno vote was added to the tally, Mr. Buhari garnered 15,416,221 votes to Mr. Jonathan’s 12,853, 162 votes.
The historic concession telephone call defused tension across Nigeria and has thrown up Mr. Jonathan as a democracy hero.
That conversation is believed to have saved Nigeria from descending into violence in the aftermath of the election.
Read full transcript of the conversation below.
Caller: Your excellency, sir. Hope I’m speaking with General Buhari, sir. President Goodluck Jonathan would like to speak with you, sir.
Receiver: Yes. Okay, hold on.
Jonathan: Your Excellency
Receiver: Hold on, sir.
Buhari: Your Excellency
Jonathan: Your Excellency, how are you?
Buhari: I’m all right.
Jonathan: (Laughter) Congratulations
Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency.
Jonathan: So, how are things?
Buhari: Well, I’d congratulate you more because you….
Jonathan: In a few days find time to come so that we can sort out how to plan the transitional period.
Buhari: Alright, Your Excellency. Thank you very much
Jonathan: Okay, congratulations
Buhari: My respects, Your Excellency. Thank you.
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