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John Adams, Minna
Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has appealed to People Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to accept the outcome of the February 23 presidential election in good faith and close ranks with President Muhammadu Buhari to build a new Nigeria.
Babangida, who said he was particularly impressed by what he called “the gallant and audacious spirit” of the former vice president, pointed out that he was not surprised that even though Atike 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.
Babangida in a statement in Minna on Saturday made available to newsmen also urged Atiku “to endeavour and prevail on his admirers to eschew bitterness and violence.”
He added: “They must be prevailed upon to understand that politics is a game in which there must be only one winner. 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.”
He said that now that the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone, and have produced a new president-elect and new members-elect of the Senate and House of Representatives, what was needed was for the winners and losers to close ranks and take Nigeria out of her present situation.
While expressing sadness over those who lost their lives due to violence in some parts of the country, the former military leader commended the Nigerian electorate who conducted themselves peacefully during the voting process, adding that, “they were enthusiastic to exercise their democratic rights of electing candidates of their choice.”
“I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to their families for the death of their loved ones,” he said.
Babangida, while congratulating Buhari for his victory at the polls, urged him to heal the wounds of the heated campaign by embracing those who contested 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.
“I wish to 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,” the former military president said.
He expressed happiness that despite the turbulent terrain of politics, Buhari submitted and subjected himself to the process by going to the nooks and crannies of the country to campaign.
“Indeed, it is a clear testimony that he believes in the democratic process and ideals,” he added.
He urged the President to confront the most urgent problems confronting Nigeria with renewed vigour now that he has won re-election.
Babangida stated that insecurity of lives and property and the Boko Haram insurgency remain a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East zone, adding that 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,” he stressed.
He also said the economy of the country should occupy the president’s urgent attention, insisting that “there is 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.”
Babangida further said, “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.”
