Obasanjo Reacts On Atiku’s Decision To Challenge Buhari’s Reelection In Court

Ex-president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed support for the move of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive’s Congress in the 2019 election.

Mr Abubakar had rejected the outcome of the February 23 polls, alleging fraud and rigging in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari. He has also asked the court to overturn the result and declare him president-elect, defying calls to concede defeat.

After one month of shunning comment on the 2019 election, Obasanjo affirmed that those who feel Atiku shouldn’t have rejected the results on the ground that it may incite violence in the country, are enemies of Nigeria and merely seeking excuse to perpetrate evil.

“While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court, may I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria. We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy. Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and one-sidedness”, he said in a statement he wrote from Dubai, where he is to attend the Global Education and Skills Forum meeting.

While encouraging Atiku’s case at Tribunal, Obasanjo took a troll on Buhari for rejecting the general elections on three different occasions, tagging it as being ‘without reasonable cause’.

“Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will want to feed us with diet of values and actions that are not acceptable in their own countries. Nigeria is of age. 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”, the ex-president added.

“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.

These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or prophesy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody.

Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. We will respect as friends those who believe that what is good for their country should be good for Nigeria. Yes, we are Africans but we have values that are consistent with international standards. Court is part of our democratic process and it must be used when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and progress for our country”, Obasanjo added.