The Lamidi Apapa-led Labour Party faction has urged Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, and Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate, to congratulate President Bola Tinubu, taking a cue from the Liberian election.
Joseph Boakai, the incoming president of Liberia, defeated George Weah. Boakai was the 29th vice president of Liberia under former President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson from 2006 to 2018.
The country’s electoral umpire declared Boakai the winner with 50.9 percent of the vote, while Weah received 49.1 percent. Weah, the former winner of the World Footballer of the Year award, had to concede defeat.
Weah and Boakai have demonstrated that elections are not a fight to be won at all costs, according to a statement released on Saturday in Abuja by the LP faction’s spokesman, Abayomi Arabambi.
Arabambi called on Atiku and Obi to work with Tinubu to rebuild the country, claiming that former President Goodluck Jonathan also took a similar stance.
He said, “The time is ripe for former Vice-President and PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of LP, Mr. Peter Obi to congratulate President Bola Tinubu after they had explored all the opportunities availed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He said, “The incumbent, who in spite of losing his second term as President yesterday did not wait for anyone before he congratulated the winner. As a responsible leader, the former President Goodluck Jonathan also did the same like George Weah, and today he is being reckoned with as a great pillar of democracy.
“Labour Party therefore appeal to Obi’ and Atiku to support the administration and have faith in ongoing reforms. We had expected the duo would bury the hatchet and join hands with the President in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda. Nigerian leaders should emulate this spirit of sportsmanship.”
