By Jennifer Y Omiloli
In spite of the rejection of the main opposition party the PDP of the just concluded presidential election and insistence of its candidate, Atiku Abubakar to approach the court to seek redress over the credibility of the elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that the just concluded polls were free and fair in his own estimation.
Buhari said he came to that conclusion from comments credited to several observers both local and foreign.
He, however, commended all the presidential candidates for putting up a good contest, acknowledging that a hard-fought campaign trailed the elections from all the stakeholders.
The re-elected President made the remarks while receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
“From the comments of several observers both local and foreign, it is obvious that the elections were both free and fair,” Buhari stated.
He described the recent election as a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, saying it took place in a peaceful manner.
“I am grateful to God for sparing our lives to witness another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development – namely conclusion of the Presidential election in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner.
“I wish, Mr Chairman, to congratulate all the Presidential candidates and their teams on a hard-fought campaign. We may have had different views during the campaign, but the one thing most of us have in common is the love of our country and our desire to improve conditions for Nigerians,” he stated.
The President said now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country, hence his warning to his teeming supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition over their loss.
He said, “Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.
“I, therefore, want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our Government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open. That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous, and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.
“The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of.
“I am very grateful to the over 15 million citizens who voted for me, those who contributed in many ways in the running of our successful campaign, and those at home and abroad who expressed confidence in me and the APC Government. I thank you all.
“I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption. Many other focal areas, as stated in our campaign manual, will be added, to the good things we plan for our country”.
The President also regretted the fate that befell some of the active participants in the electoral process, insisting that the do-or-die approach to elections was not in the best interest of the country.
“Let me pay tribute here to those who lost their lives either through accidents or mindless violence during the course of these elections. My heart and thoughts are with the families of the victims. May God comfort and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair. I pray that we all accept this democratic approach to elections, however contentious,” he noted.
Meanwhile, President Buhari also commiserated with the families of the victims of the latest bandits’ attacks in Sokoto and the inter-communal conflict in Kaduna State, warning that “mass murder of innocent people by criminals would be met with full force.”
Reacting to the wave of killings in Abuja on Wednesday, President Buhari said that, “The death of one innocent Nigerian is no less important than the death of a hundred”, adding that, “It is a matter of time before these murderous gangs of criminals meet their Waterloo.”
According to the President, “The criminals cannot be lucky always because the law will ultimately catch up with them and deliver justice ruthlessly.”
“Let no group of outlaws doubt the will and resolve of my administration to confront criminals who have no iota of regard for the sanctity of life,” he stated emphatically.
President Buhari also reassured Nigerians that their security remained a top priority of his government.
The President said, “Our security personnel are being trained, retrained, motivated and provided with essential equipment in order to improve their capacity to respond to our security challenges.”
President Buhari also prayed that God Almighty would grant rest to the souls of the unfortunate victims of the killings in Sokoto and Kaduna States.
Earlier, the INEC Chairman, professor Mahmood Yakubu while presenting the certificate of return to the President and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, explained that it was in compliance with the electoral Act, which stipulates that the document is presented to the winner within 7days.
Buhari retained his seat for another four years with 15,191,947 million votes cast in his favour defeating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 11,262,978 million votes.
While Buhari successfully won 19 states, Atiku garnered 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
With the development, Buhari is expected to continue in office for another four-year term that would elapse in 2023.
In a related development, the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in last Saturday’s election, Atiku Abubakar, has rejected the result of the poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday morning.
In his response to the declaration, the PDP candidate said the result was unacceptable to him and that he would challenge it in court.
“If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South,” Mr Abubakar said.
“However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.
“Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.
“I want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we will not allow democracy to be emasculated.”
Giving reason for rejecting the result of the election, Mr Abubakar said, “… It is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.
“One obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states. The suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50% less than what they were in 2015?
“Another glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these unfortunate situations.
“The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in the future.” Atiku said
