The former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as well as other presidential candidates in the forthcoming general elections to accept the outcome of the 2019 presidential poll in good faith.
He enjoined the political gladiators to imbibe the spirit that made former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat after the 2015 presidential poll to President Buhari, for the benefit of all and sundry in the nation, adding that he believes so much in the unity of Nigeria.
Gowon who made the appeal in an interview shortly after the opening of an exhibition in honour of an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe, held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on Tuesday urged other leaders to promote national unity in their dealings.
The programme, organised to flag off a week-long activities to celebrate 60 years anniversary of Akinkugbe as doctor of medicine, 50 years as a professor of medicine, and to hang his stethoscope, was attended by the Chairman, Board of Management of UCH, Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima; Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof Temitope Alonge; former Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Abiodun Ilesanmi, and so on.
He said: “What happened last time (2015) if you remember, there was so much tension and the tension was so high that if things had gone wrong, Nigeria would have been on fire. Then, as a result, (former) President Jonathan agreed at the early stage to say he accepted the results and congratulated Gen Buhari. Now, this is the way.
“I was in Ethiopia on African Union (AU) mission. The feeling before what happened there was tension, anxiety, and worry by all in all African states. When the result was announced, I was just leaving Ethiopia to come back to Nigeria; come and see the joy in the people of Africa at that meeting.
“So, that was the sort of things I will really say we should have, so that we can have a peaceful election that is credible, peaceful and people should accept the results of the election for the sake of Nigeria.
“Where things go wrong, try to improve for the next time. It is my hope and fear that things will go well. I hope all of you will play your parts to ensure peaceful election. If you make your own contributions that way, then we will be well.
“I have come to see what Prof Akinkugbe has achieved. He deserves all the encomiums as an emeritus professor. He has done a lot and has left a lot for the future generations. I hope all of you will give credence to his achievements, and I hope many others will follow his example.
“This is what I will say that all of you must do your best in whatever you are doing to promote the good of your country; make your suggestions to make things good and better.”
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof Alonge, in his remarks, noted that Akinkugbe practised his trade directly and indirectly for over four decades, adding that the UCH “revels in your achievement and felicitate with you today as you finally hang your companion – the stethoscope.”
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
