Monday, November 2, 2026

Capitol siege: It’s better to lose power to gain peace, Jonathan advises Trump

“I have repeatedly said nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen, in any part of the world,” former president Jonathan wrote in a Facebook post.

• January 7, 2021
Goodluck Jonathan
Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan [PHOTO CREDIT: UN]

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has waded into escalating civil unrest in the United States, as outgoing U.S. leader Donald Trump has voiced his unpreparedness to relinquish power to President-elect Joe Biden.

Mr. Trump has spent weeks railing against purported claims of being rigged out of a win in the November election, while continually exhibiting an uncooperative stance towards the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

Hours after riling up supporters, who he encouraged to march to the Capitol — meeting place of the U.S. Congress, hundreds of demonstrators Wednesday breached security and scaled the steps of the building where federal lawmakers were due to certify Mr. Biden’s victory at the poll.

Reacting to the violent desecration of the United States’ parliament, the former Nigerian leader had in a veiled reference to the U.S. president, advised against sacrificing public peace for the lust for power.

“I have repeatedly said nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen, in any part of the world,” former president Jonathan wrote in a Facebook post Thursday morning. “Absolutely nobody. Again, I reiterate that it is better to lose power at the cost of gaining peace than to gain power at the price of losing the peace.”

He added that “as a leader, one must not just look unto one’s own interest, but the interest and the good of society. It is never too late to reject the venom and inject the serum of peace.”

Mr. Jonathan, who lost his reelection bid in 2015 to President Muhammadu Buhari, had swiftly conceded the election and congratulated his opponent before the final results were announced by Nigeria’s electoral body INEC.

The historic move by the ex-president has been globally applauded, with many asserting that his unprecedented concession to defeat had averted looming crises and potential loss of lives.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)

Education

NCCE urges Nigerian youths to choose colleges of education as first choice

NCCE urged prospective students to consider colleges of education as their first choice when seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

Tinubu and Peter Mbah

Politics

Enugu commissioner mobilises women for Tinubu, Mbah’s re-election

Benedette Okoli urged women to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in 2027.

Crashed jet in Florida

World

Nine people killed in U.S. plane crash

The Learjet 60 aircraft was travelling to the Bahamas from Austin, Texas, when it began descending at hundreds of feet per second before crashing.

Hassan Olamilekan

Anti-Corruption

Court jails Lagos teenager Hassan Olamilekan for money laundering

The Federal High Court, Ikoyi Division, has convicted and sentenced internet fraudster Hassan Olamilekan for laundering $800 from a gift card scam.

Police

States

Imo woman in coma after allegedly being pushed off by sister’s boyfriend

A woman is now in a coma at a hospital after falling from a storey building in Mbonu Ejike, Owerri, Imo, after allegedly being pushed by her sister’s boyfriend.

Atiku, lantern in darkness

Politics

Atiku vows to end electricity band system, promises stable power for all Nigerians

Across Nigeria, consumers are placed in Bands A, B, C, D and E and charged different rates. In many areas, Band A customers pay about ₦209.50 per unit before VAT.