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As the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria is nearing conclusion with the ongoing collation of the presidential election results, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has appealed to political gladiators with grievances not to set Nigeria on fire but to take legal actions.
Oluwo made the appeal while addressing journalists on the state of the nation, with respect to the general election, in his palace.
According to him, “I appeal to party men with grievances to approach the court of law. Obeyance to law and order defines who we are. If you can’t keep the unity of Nigeria, don’t be a vehicle to her disunity.
“I must register my trust in Nigeria and her distinctive leaders mostly President Muhammad Buhari, whose commitment to democratic value is lifting our hope. This general election, in my own reasonable assessment, is the best legacy of all achievements of His Excellency, Buhari.
“I have witnessed and participated in several elections, for the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing the hope for the Nigerian democracy where the son of nobody is giving the opportunity to get elected. I read the story of that man (an Okada man) of Labour Party in Kaduna, the state of the outspoken El-Rufai, who got elected as a federal legislator without knowing anybody. The former acting party chairman of APC/Governor of Yobe State, Mala Buni, lost to another party. I read the story of Lagos State, the headquarters of Batists where the Obidients sprang surprising votes. I was privy to Benue where a sitting governor lost his Senatorial ticket. Katsina, the home of the President won by opposition party. Nothing else should amaze you most than the APC party chairman, Senator Adamu Abdullahi lost his unit to another candidate.
“Osun, where the first interim party chairman of APC comes from was lost to the PDP. These and many have reinvigorated the hope in the helpless masses who thought they can’t be politically relevant without some people. Your Excellency have challenged the old order and strengthened the democratic awareness that gives hope to the hopeless. Nobody in the history of Nigeria has ever had such record. The grievances in few places are sentimental which is understandable and unavoidable.
“Permit me to commend the electoral umpires from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakub, the collation officers for each state, the states Residential Electoral Commissioners, INEC Staff, the international observers, corps members and the security operatives. You are all heroes who sacrificed to entrench fairness, credibility and freest election. This is the greatest electoral shocker in history.
“Prof. Mahmud Yakub is a credible and wise for composing himself in the face of provocation.
“In 2019, Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes, winning in 19 of the states while his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 10,782, 007. The improvement of INEC and her regimented voting procedures could contribute to the accredited voters. He has convinced us that Nigeria will be a reference point of democratic ethos. All leakages to inflate the election results were blocked.
“Students of history and objective observers are enjoined to mark and credit our democratic growth. I’m sure the founding fathers who sacrificed for this democracy will be happy in their graves. Most political gladiators were suffocated by INEC fairness, credibility and uprightness.
“One other peculiar characteristics of the 2023 Presidential Election is, it has further cemented the unity of Nigeria. The three leading presidential candidates got convincing votes from the northern and southern Nigeria. That has spoken to the minds of nationalists who cherish our nation. Atiku, Tinubu and Obi are loved in Southern and Northern Nigeria.
“The reasonable, patriotic Nigerians, statesmen, stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, journalists, opinion leaders, international observers are charged to defend the electoral excellency that gives hope to the common man to become a federal legislator. I’m not saying the election is perfect but it’s the best ever in the history of our country (Nigeria). The elders benefitting from violence should allow us to grow. We are moving and improving. No rational mind should call for war with the objectivity and fairness of INEC. Those who have ruled should juxtapose the election they supervised with this electoral legacy of President Muhammad Buhari. Buhari, you are a super president on this.
“Ladies and gentlemen, every loyal, chauvinistic passionate, faithful and patriotic Nigerians should tell the truth, encourage the electoral umpires (INEC), commend the security operatives and commend the process that gives a challenging electoral victory to our democracy.
” This election has challenged past leaders who ever conducted such freest poll to come forward with fact. We won’t allow anyone to destroy Nigeria democracy constructed by the sweat of our founding fathers. “