The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulraosheed Adewale Akanbi, has described the grievances in few places over the yet-to-be formally announced results of the Saturday’s presidential election as sentimental.
The monarch, at a press conference in his palace on Tuesday, said the grievances were understandable and unavoidable.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, collation officers for each state, Residential Electoral Commissioners, INEC staff, international observers, corps members and the security operatives for their sacrifices to entrench fairness, credibility and freest election.
Noting that this is the greatest electoral shocker in history, the monarch said the INEC chairman was wise for composing himself in the face of provocation.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, as a quinquagenarian, I’ve 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 Obi of the moment won convincingly.
“I was privy to Benue where a seating 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 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.
“Students of history and objective observers are enjoined to mark and credit our democratic growth. I’m sure the founder fathers who earlier sacrificed for this democracy will be happy in their graves. Most political gladiators were suffocated by INEC fairness, credibility and uprightness,” he stated.
According to Oluwo, another peculiar characteristic of the 2023 presidential election is that it has further cemented the unity of Nigeria as the three leading presidential candidates got convincing votes from 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.
“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 umpire, INEC, commend the security operatives and commend the process that gives a challenging electoral victory to our democracy.
“I appeal to party men with grievances to approach court of law. Obeyance to lawa and order defines who we are. If you can’t keep the unity of Nigeria, We won’t allow anyone to destroy Nigeria democracy constructed by the sweat of our founding fathers.”
