IBB congratulates Buhari, urges Atiku to accept defeat

Former military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has congratulated President Mohammadu Buhari on his re-election, urging him to be magnanimous in victory.

“I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on his re-election to lead Nigeria in the next four years. I have observed that, the electioneering campaign was very strenuous and the contest very keen. Despite the turbulent terrain of politics, the President submitted and subjected himself to this process. Indeed it is a clear testimony that he believes in the democratic process and ideal.”

IBB also congratulated the Nigerian electorate who conducted themselves peacefully during the voting process.

He noted that the people were enthusiastic to exercise their democratic rights of electing candidates of their choice.

The former leader, however, regretted that sadly, due to violence in some part of the country, lives were lost, extending his heartfelt condolences to their families for the death of their loved ones.

He admonished the newly elected president to heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him.

“The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward”.

“Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigor the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: ‘insecurity of lives and property’. The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region, while the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry remain a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues”.

IBB charged President Buhari that economy of the country must also occupy the president’s urgent attention, believing there was the need to be more creative in formulating policies that will improve the nation’s economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to our teaming youths.

“He also appealed to the President to look critically into the issue of restructuring agitating many Nigerians as a critical factor towards nation building

“The President may wish to heed to the yearnings of reasonable Nigerians for restructuring and seek all constitutional means to devolve some powers presently exercised by the Federal Government to the other tiers of government”.

On the electioneering, IBB commended the doggedness of all participants for giving a good fight,, especially, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, urging him to accept defeat in good faith.

“Let me commend and convey my admiration to the other contestants for the office of president.

I was particularly impressed with the gallant and audacious spirit of the main challenger in the presidential race, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON. I was not surprised that even though he lost the most exotic position of the land, his doggedness and pattern of support cut across ethnic, religious and regional lines that earned him the second position of the last Presidential election.

“I call on the former Vice –President Atiku Abubakar to close ranks and work with the winner of the election in an objective and constructive manner so that democracy will continue to thrive in our country at this crucial period of renaissance.

“I urged him also to endeavour and prevail on his admirers to eschew bitterness and violence. They must be prevailed upon to understand that politics is a game in which there must be only one winner”

The former President prayed the Almighty Allah will continue to guide our democratic steps for peace and progress in our country.