The candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded presidential election, Peter Obi, has reacted to the election result.
Mr Peter Obi, on Thursday said that the party would follow all available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim its mandate.
The LP presidential candidate noted that Nigerians trooped out en-masse to participate in what was promised and expected to be free, fair and transparent Presidential and National Assembly elections.
He said that the election had been conducted and results announced, but, according to him, it was a clear deviation from the electoral rules and guidelines as promised.
Peter Obi who observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives and suffered injuries during the election periods, said he was robbed of his mandate but he would contest it in court as an obedient member of the society.
His words, “However, let me humbly and most respectfully appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law-abiding and conduct yourselves in a most responsible manner.
“Please be assured that for Datti and I, and indeed for all of us, this is not the end, but the beginning of the journey to birth a new Nigeria,” he said.
Obi said that Datti Baba-Ahmed and himself remained undaunted and committed to the project of a new Nigeria that would be built on honesty, transparency, fairness, justice and equity.
“All of these start with the process, the process through which people are elected to office is as important if not more important than what they do thereafter with the office and authority.
“If we seek to be called Your Excellency, then the process through which we are elected should also be excellent or sufficiently credible to generate the required confidence and moral authority to govern and lead.
“Let me reiterate and assure my good people of Nigeria that we will follow all available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim our mandate,” he said.
According to Obi, the destruction of a society can be a gradual or sudden process through acts such as deliberate refusal to obey the rule of law and via the suppression of the will of the people.
He urged his supporters to continue with their campaigns and troop out on Saturday, March 11, to vote again for Labour Party in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
“Please do not despair at a time when we can still achieve massive victories in the forthcoming elections,” he said.
Obi appreciated and thanked all Nigerians that participated in the elections, especially those who voted LP.
“My profound thanks go to the youths, ‘Obidients’ and support groups for your commitment and resilience for a better Nigeria.
“You truly showed that you can take back your country; we will continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all Nigerians killed during the campaigns and for those that were violently attacked, we pray for their quick recovery.
“We reiterate our total condemnation of such attacks and continue to demand that security agencies stop further attacks and bring perpetrators to book,” he said.
See his full speech below:
“Again, my dear people, let me correct an impression because I’m seeing some people saying in the media that I released one news or the other. I have never, directly or indirectly, spoken or released any message since after voting on the 25th. My last comment to the media was immediately after voting on the 25th, and I’ve never done so until now. So, whatever you see in the media please disregard. It’s not coming from me directly or indirectly.
“This is my first time of speaking to the media, and I thank all of you for your understanding. For me, it is a very simple thing to speak to Nigerians who on the 25th of February trooped out en masses as committed citizens to participate in what all of us have called an existential election, for a supposedly free, fair, credible presidential and national assembly election. We give thanks to God.
“For me, the number one thing is gratitude. Gratitude to God Almighty that continues to protect and bless our dear country Nigeria. Number two is gratitude. Gratitude to Nigerians that participated in the election, answering the call as true citizens in our dear country. Number three is gratitude to those of you Nigerians, especially the youth, that believed and worked tirelessly for a new Nigeria, I thank them for the hard work. Gratitude to the Obidients, Youths, those who believe that a new Nigeria is possible, and I say to them that a new Nigeria is possible, and we will work for that new Nigeria.
“The resilience, the hard work, for a new Nigeria should not wane. Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria. I know how they will be feeling now because of the way the elections have come and gone. The commitment of Nigerians, even in the face of unwarranted attacks, is a testimony that a new Nigeria is indeed possible. I look at people like Lady Jennifer who was stabbed but insisted on voting, and that gives me courage to believe that a new Nigeria is indeed possible –and there are so many other Nigerians.
“The election that we just witnessed has been conducted and results announced as programmed. It is a clear violation of the electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised. This election did not meet the minimum standard expected of a free, transparent, credible fair election. It will go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria.
“The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have again been robbed by our supposed leaders whom they trusted. However, very humbly, I must appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and conduct themselves in the most responsible manner. Please be assured that Datti and I, and indeed all of us, this is not the end but the beginning of the journey for the birth of a new Nigeria. Datti Baba-Ahmed and I remain undaunted and committed to the project of a new Nigeria that will be built on honesty, transparency, fairness, justice, equity.
“All the above starts with a process. The process through which people come into office is far more fundamental, more important than what they do thereafter. It is my belief that if you must answer “His Excellency”, the process through which you arrive to office must be excellent.
“We must now require that we do the right things. It has to generate the confidence and moral authority to lead. As you know, the destruction of a society begins and gradually progresses when we act rascally, with the deliberate manipulation of the rule of law and the suppression of the will of the people. During my campaign we have been saying that we will govern by the rule of law because we know what not doing that will bring about.
“I assure the good people of Nigeria that we will explore all legal and peaceful options to recall our mandate.
“We won the election, and we will prove it to Nigerians.
“Please, do not despair. We have elections coming up on the 11th. I enjoin you to go out. Campaign. Come out and vote in that election. We still have so many massive support out there that we need for our subnational and state assemblies. Please, come out and be part of that election. I assure you that I will be part of it. I assure you that I am totally committed to a better future in this country, and nothing will stop that. Datti’s commitment, my commitment, is total.
“Be rest assured that your support will not be in vain and you will not find us wanting. We must build a better Nigeria where Nigerian youth will be happy, glad to call their own country.
“Thank you and may God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
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