Says victory is a challenge to deliver
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural Afenifere, on Thursday, congratulated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his victory at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PEPT).
The leader of Afenifere Worldwide, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was quoted by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, as expressing delight at the victory of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the judgement given on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
He however,added that the victory is a challenge on Tinubu to keep his campaign promises and work towards Restructuring of the country.
It would be recalled that all the five judges who heard the petitions filed by three presidential candidates that participated in the election unanimously dismissed the petitions one after the other and declared that President Tinubu and his Vice, Shettima, were validly elected at the presidential election that took place in Nigeria on February 25, 2023. Marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, CA/PEPC/05/2023 and CA/PEPC/04/2023, the petitions were lodged before the electoral court by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; as well as the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, respectively.
Judges that heard the petitions were Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, Hon. Justice Mistura Bolaji-Yusuf, Hon. Justice Stephen Adah, Hon. Justice Boloukuoromo Ugo and Hon. Justice Abba Mohammed.
In a release signed by Ajayi, Afenifere congratulated Tinubu and Shettima, stating that the judgement which further validated the electoral victory of February 25th, should be seen not only as an indication of growing democracy in the country, but also a challenge on the present administration to actualize various promises contained in the Renewed Hope manifesto presented to Nigerians in 2022 and 2023.
“As I indicated in my congratulatory message when you, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, was declared winner of this year’s presidential election, your victory raises a lot of hope and you cannot afford to fail Nigerians.
“Incidentally, your manifesto on how to reset Nigeria resonates with my vision for having a Nigeria of which we all would be proud – as I mentioned to you on the two occasions you visited me last year in Akure. Going by the steps you have taken so far; I believe that you are setting the country on a sound footing for progress”.
Afenifere leader added that the pains occasioned by the withdrawal of fuel subsidy should be soothed as quickly as possible so that “Nigeria can begin to enjoy life more abundant and good welfare that they deserve”.
According to Ajayi, Pa Fasoranti commended all the parties involved in the petitions stating that their choice of going to court was part of the process of deepening democracy in Nigeria.
“For instance, the petitions gave the judiciary the opportunity to make far-reaching pronouncements on some important aspects of our electoral law and aspects of the Constitution that deals with election matters.
The pronouncements by the eminent judges shed more light and enlighten us more on how to go about our electoral processes” Ajayi stated.
He added that politicians should learn a lot of lessons from the verdict so that they would be better guided in their future electoral activities.
The release lauded Nigerians, the judiciary and all those involved in the judicial processes for the peaceful manner in which the matter was handled. It then charged all concerned to now brace up for proper governance “so that Nigerians would quickly put the present hardship behind them and begin to experience improved standard in their welfare while the country itself begins a fast-paced journey towards becoming a developed nation. Restructuring and proper federalization of the country should form important aspects of the rejigging to be effected”, the statement added.
