Forum of presidential candidates congratulates Buhari, advises Atiku

No fewer than 12 presidential candidates in the February 23 election on Monday in Abuja congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC on his re-election.

Acting under the aegis of Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance, the group said at a news conference in Abuja, that the victory was deserved.

Chairman of the forum, Shittu Kabir, said “we are indeed not oblivious of the fact that only one candidate will emerge as president.

”Now that the candidate of the APC, President Buhari has been re-elected, we have no qualms accepting his victory.

”Permit this opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on his well-deserved victory at the polls.

”The pattern of voting, the large turn-out and country-wide endorsement of Buhari attests to the fact that Nigerians are pleased with him, his style of leadership and performance in the last three and half years.”

Mr Kabir, who is a member of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), appealed to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the election, Abubakar Atiku, not to contest Buhari’s victory in court.

He advised Mr Abubakar to put Nigeria above primordial sentiment at this crucial time by respecting the verdict of the citizens, who gave their votes to support Mr Buhari’s re-election.

”We urge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to disregard the advice of those asking him to challenge the outcome of the election in court.

”To borrow the popular adage in Africa, two litigants cannot resolve their differences in court and return to the same house as brothers. President Buhari and Alhaji Abubakar are brothers.

”We strongly urge Alhaji Abubakar to drop the legal option in expressing his grievances. This is consistent with the counsel of many well-meaning Nigerians, including Chief Olisa Agbakoba and General Ibrahim Babangida.

”We also believe that the former Vice President has made a mark among Nigerians of means who have positively impacted their communities.

”We think he has a lot more to contribute to developing humanity and promoting peace and progress in our nation, even without holding any political office.

”At his age, he should now avoid any action and utterances capable of fanning the embers of discord, disagreement and violent conduct. Nigeria is greater than any personal or class interest,” he said.

The chairman called on Buhari to include everyone in his government, including those who did not vote for him.

He said with the right investment environment, the government had put measures in place to attract investment into Nigeria in the next three years.

He pledged the group’s “continuous support and cooperation to the government and look forward to collaborating in areas of mutual interest in the task of the nation-building’’.

Mr Kabir commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a credible, free and fair election, in spite of obvious lapses bothering on human error and isolated cases of thuggery and intolerance.

He charged the commission to improve on its operational logistics in Saturday’s elections and ensure that all Nigerians would be able to exercise their mandate without hindrance.

“The same advice goes to all security agencies, especially security personnel directly involved in election-related duties,” he said.

Twelve presidential candidates of other political parties had before the poll, endorsed Buhari, according to a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

The candidates included Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance’s Shittu Kabiru, Independent Democrats’ Edozie Madu, Danjuma Mohammed of Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy, Mamman Naptali of Allied Peoples Movement and Save Nigeria Party’s Ahmed Buhari.

They said they decided to support Mr Buhari because of advances made in security, economy, fighting corruption, infrastructure development and agricultural revolution.