In a statement personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta by his Media Aide, Obasanjo, who had kept mute, hinged his reaction on the judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, winner of last year’s gubernatorial polls.
The former president maintained that seeking justice at the tribunal like Adeleke and Atiku did should never be discouraged, adding that justice must not be sacrificed “on the altar of sustaining Nigeria’s stability.”
He further argued that the stability of Nigeria “cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and one-sidedness.”
Obasanjo, who described the Osun State election as clear illegality, said ‘‘the tribunal has saved Nigeria from great embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our democracy’’.
He said, “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”from dailyptrust
Loud it Baba mee... One thing people don't understand is that, even if Atiku didn't get justice in court at least he established a case showing the fraud and irregularities of the system that will further strengthen and improve the electoral system.
ReplyDeleteI seem not to understand why people are so concerned and worried about the legal redress Atiku is seeking. If they have nothing in their sleeves or any skeleton in their cupboard, why being jiltry? Only the guilty conscience people fears the unknown.
Exactly what i have been telling people. Whether he wins or not. Its still a win for the country's electoral system. If he does not go this shame elections of 2019 on all levels will be a trademark.
DeleteA million likes for your comment Teejay. Obasanjo is so on point. What continuity are they preaching about when it is obvious that that last four years only brought hardship to Nigerians. You only hope for continuity when something good is on ground. The last Presidential Election was shrouded on fraud and so many irregularities. Atiku should seek redress in Court. I believe he is reasonable enough to back off if after he seeks for justice in Court and it is obvious that he lost. Until then, those discouraging him should hold their peace.
DeleteObj no one listens to you anymore.In fact, your time of politicking is up':.
ReplyDeleteYes u read his post and commented
DeleteWhat I did not know about Atiku which came out glaringly later was his parental background which was somewhat shadowy, his belief and reliance on marabouts*, his lack of transparency*, *his trust in money to buy his way out on all issues* and his*readiness to sacrifice morality, integrity, propriety, truth and national interest for self and selfish interests* - Olusegun Obasanjo
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