Four seasons of a democratic politician.

The former president also outlined what he described as the four seasons of a democratic politician.

He said: “The first is when you start campaigning and go round to seek for votes, then the election comes and you win. The second season is when you take up office and all is going well, then suddenly there is ups and down, of course you came in with high popularity that’s why you are able to win election, but as you go on the popularity start to dwindle, until either you come to the expiration of your time or you lose election.

“Now the beginning of the third season, it does not matter who you are, immediately you leave office you will have lost friends, particularly the fairweather friends, and that is a very tight period for anybody who has been elected before. Then the fourth is when you weather the storm until you start to pick up again.”

Obasanjo praised Jonathan for his leadership to Nigeria and the manner in which he exited office.