In a recent chat with newsmen, Ambassador Karo Ekewenu, a United Nations Ambassador on Millennium Development Goals opens up on the recently concluded general elections.

What is your take on the 2015 general elections?

President Jonathan demonstrated his high level of patriotism and leadership in view of his calm disposition through the course of the electioneering exercise and crowned this when he conceded defeat when it became glaring that his opponent had won the contest. The rare action in this part of the globe was most crucially necessary to douse the fear across the nation at the period. That was probably the most difficult decision ever taken by the President but, trust me, that’s the wisest and most profitable as well. It was a display of true leadership statesmanship.

Having eulogized the action of the President in ensuring peace, are there no other efforts within and outside the country that helped in this regard?

A lot of Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and the international community played great roles in ensuring peace before, during and after the elections. One cannot underestimate the powerful intervention of the United States of America (USA), European Union, United Kingdom, The African Union, ECOWAS, Dr Kofi Annan, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, General Abdusalam Abubakar (rtd) and so many others who intervened and worked frantically for peace.

What was your experience in Delta State where you come from?

In Delta State, I was surprised at the level of awareness from the urban to the rural areas about the candidates in each of the political parties. From Ethiope -West to Ethiope-East down to Okpe, Sapele and the entire Ughelli, everybody knows Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

What is the way forward for the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State to consolidate on its political grip in the state?

What is more Interesting to note is that Delta State people are completely of the position that the political class in the state should come to accept the final verdict of the credible governorship election. In the journey of life, there is bound to be a victor and vanquished, There is bound to be a winner and a loser. In principle, the jostling for a political office is to consent to the fact that one person is bound to triumph and the rest aspirants are obligated by the rules of the game to accept defeat.

Indeed, this understanding is a golden rule. It is not exclusive to politics. Even in the prominent faiths that we understand and believe in, magnanimity in victory and gallantry in defeat is what differentiate real sportsmen from desperadoes. At the initial stage in the contest, the outcome of the PDP governorship primary election in Delta State exposed some lapses in our political culture.