OBJ SPEAKS ON ADELEKE’s TRIBUNAL WIN, TACKLES THOSE OPPOSING ATIKU’S LAW SUIT

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed the declaration by an election tribunal, of Ademola Adeleke as the governor-elect of Osun State, saying INEC’s earlier ruling against him was a “desperate attempt to change the will of the Osun people”.

Chief Obasanjo also condemned those urging Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in last month’s presidential election, not to go to court.

He said such calls were coming from the “enemies of Nigeria” and those seeking to intimidate Nigerians by threatening violence.

Atiku Abubakar has rejected the outcome of the February 23 polls, alleging fraud and rigging in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari, and has asked the court to overturn the result and declare him president-elect, defying calls to concede defeat.

While such calls have publicly come from mostly Buhari’s supporters, some groups have expressede fears that a potential legal victory for Atiku Abubakar could trigger unrest.

Those groups have therefore argued a preference for a stable Nigeria at the cost of any merit Atiku’s claim may have.

In his first public comments on the election, Chief Obasanjo, who backed Atiku Abubakar for the top job, attacked such suggestions coming from those who “call themselves our development partners and friends”.

In his first public comments on the election, Chief Obasanjo, who backed Atiku Abubakar for the top job, attacked such suggestions coming from those who “call themselves our development partners and friends”.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

He took a swipe at President Buhari who thrice challenged the results of elections he contested in the past.