Farida, the daughter of former president John Mahama, was elated when her father lost the 2016 elections because she will bond better with him.
“I’m very happy that you lost the elections!” were the words which came out of the nine-year-old when she returned from school to see her father lying in bed and enjoying TV.
Former president John Mahama revealed the conversation between him and his daughter during a lecture in Nigeria on Thursday.
“I remember the day after I had handed over – this was the 8th of January – I woke up in the morning and remembered there was no Office to go to.
“So, I relaxed in my bed and turned on the TV, watching CNN.I spent the whole day watching TV at the time Donald Trump was the President-elect, and they were going through the transition, waiting to hand over; so, I just kept watching what was going on,” Mahama revealed.
He added: “My daughter, Farida, who had gone to school in the morning, arrived in the afternoon. She found me lying in bed which was unusual, because when I was President we could go a whole week without seeing each other.”
“She leaves the house early in the morning to be able to get to school on time, by which time I probably had not gotten out of bed. She gets back home late afternoon and I am in the Office and I get back in the night when she is asleep. So, we could go the whole week without seeing each other. For the first time, she came back from school and there I was lying on my bed and watching television.”
Mahama then narrated the conversation that ensued to the curious gathering:
Farida: Daddy, didn’t you go to the Office?
John Mahama: No, don’t you remember that I handed over to President Akufo-Addo yesterday?
Farida: OK; so it means you are not going to the Office anymore?
John Mahama: No, I have no Office to go to
Farida: Then I am happy! So will I be coming home from school and meeting you in the house?
John Mahama: Yes
Farida: Then I am very happy that you lost the elections!
Mahama has over the last 11 months been speaking at public fora and observing elections.