The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of Labour Party has called on its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to borrow a leaf from the Liberian election by congratulating President Bola Tinubu.
Liberian president-elect, Joseph Boakai, who previously served as the 29th vice president of Liberia under former President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson from 2006 to 2018, had defeated the incumbent, George Weah.
Weah, a former World Footballer of the Year award recipient, had conceded defeat after the country’s electoral umpire announced Boakai as the winner with 50.9 percent of the vote with Weah garnering 49.1 per cent.
Reacting via a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, spokesman for the LP faction, Abayomi Arabambi, disclosed that both Weah and Boakai have proven that election is neither a do or die affair nor a war that must be won at all cost.
While arguing that former President Goodluck Jonathan also toed the same line, Arabambi urged Ariku and Obi to join Tinubu in rebuilding the country.
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.”
