Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has berated those against the decision
of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), to challenge the outcome of the February 23 presidential election.
He also commended the decision of the Osun Elections Petition Tribunal to
declare Ademola Adeleke, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, as
winner of the election.
According to Obasanjo, if Buhari could challenge his loss during previous
elections, nothing stops Atiku from also going to court.
A statement issued by Obasanjo on Saturday read: “While I was in Dubai to
attend the Global Education and Skills Forum meeting, I received the news
of the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal
declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), the winner of the 2018 Governorship election in
the state.
“Let me take this opportunity to commend the tribunal for its courage in
nullifying what was clearly an illegality. This action by the judicial
officers, albeit a first step in the legal process, gives renewed
confidence in the judiciary at a time when there are coordinated efforts
by some political leaders to undermine, if not destroy, it.
“As I have repeatedly said, the world is watching events in Nigeria with
keen interest. What we do or do not do right in our electoral process will
have implications not just for Nigeria but for Africa and indeed the
world. By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change the
will of the Osun people, the tribunal has saved Nigeria from great
embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our
democracy.
“Let me also commend Sen. Adeleke for his statesmanship in going to court
to seek justice. This is the right and proper thing to do in any decent
society. Going to court must be encouraged and not discouraged as some
people are now attempting to do.
“And if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice, even without
reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of justice must feel free
to go to court.
“Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative that if Atiku
Abubakar continues to seek legal redress there will be violence, are evil
minds looking for excuse to unleash violence on Nigerians. At no time in
history has sustainable peace been built on theft, injustice, corruption
and inequity.”