Accept defeat, group tells APC candidates

A pro-democracy group, Coalition of Niger Deltans for Justice and Development, on Tuesday, called on the aggrieved candidates of the All Progressives Congress who lost elections to accept defeat in good faith.

The group urged the APC candidates in Enugu, Gombe, Plateau, Rivers, Ekiti, Ondo and Akwa Ibom states to accept defeat and congratulate the winners of the governorship and House of Assembly polls.

The group said though the elections in those states might have been marred by irregularities, the losers in the election should see the outcome as the decision of the people.

The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Ebiakpo Barle, urged the candidates to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan by accepting the outcome of the elections and embrace peace.

The group said, “The aggrieved candidate should accept the outcome of the polls in good faith and congratulate the winners as good sportsmen just as President Goodluck Jonathan had done. The only way to strengthen national unity, development and progress is to bury personal ambitions and allow patriotism to take the lead.

“We must all emulate President Jonathan’s gesture, who despite all the powers and resources of Nigeria at his disposal, sank selfishness, greed and self aggrandisement to concede defeat to Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) so that Nigeria could move on peacefully and to prosperity.

“We use this opportunity to thank Jonathan for standing for Nigeria. Millions would have lost their lives by now in heated post-election violence that may have been orchestrated by do-or-die politicians.

“His belief in the unity, development and advancement of our Nigeria despite all provocation in the last four years has saved Nigeria from anarchy and proved those who had predicted doom for Nigeria wrong.

The group seized the opportunity to congratulate Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on their victory. It urged them to continue in the footsteps of the Jonathan administration in sustaining peace and democracy in the country.

“We also believe and pray that the Buhari government would fight corruption and not chase shadows,” it said.