Pres. Jonathan , speaks on why he conceded defeat

President Jonathan has given his reason for conceding defeat to President elect, Gen Buhari during the March 28th Presidential election. The President said he decided to concede to avoid a collective tragedy. He said there has to be a nation before any personal ambition can be fulfilled and that for him, what comes first is the nation before ambition. Pres Jonathan said this when he received the new French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denis Guaer (pictured left) at the state house yesterday April 16  

"Since I assumed duty, I have been involved in quelling political crises in some African countries and I know what they passed through and what some are still going through. If you scuttle a system for personal ambition, it becomes a collective tragedy. You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition. Democracy has to be nurtured to grow. Strong democratic institutions are the backbone and future of our democracy. They must be protected and nurtured. As for me, as a matter of principle, it is always the nation first" he said.