AUDIO: Read What Jonathan Told Buhari In Historic Concession Phone Call

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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