Former Head of State, Gen.
Abdusalami Abubakar, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for
conceding defeat and congratulating Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his
victory.
“We are here to ensure peace is maintained at this moment. We thank
Nigerians and all international community who came to support us during
the elections.The elections have been very peaceful despite the hitches
here and there. At the end of the elections, at the counting, there are a
lot of upheavals that have happened but thankfully they have been contained.
“We were at the middle of a meeting with the international observers to
try to see how we can still water the tension down when gladly I called
Gen. Buhari that we are going to see him. He told me that Mr. President
has called him at about 5.15 pm and congratulated him and conceded
defeat.
“We were spellbound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship.
“In
the history of Nigeria, I think this is the first time where a
contestant has called his rival to congratulate him and through this
point, President Jonathan maintains a point that the blood of Nigerians
is not worth his Presidency and by his action, he has proven that.He has
proven that he is a man of his word, because during our interaction on
this peace committee, he has always maintained that he is going to
accept the result of the elections whichever way it is done. And he has
proven this.”
.
“In any contest, there is always going to be a winner and President
Jonathan has accepted that he lost and we want to thank him on behalf
of Nigerians.
“I want to thank President Jonathan for being the
statesman that he is, he has proved that he is a statesman and he has
the love of this country in his heart. So, Nigerians should please help
him to ensure this is real.
“For any Nigerian, who is aggrieved, the electoral law has procedures
for seeking redress, so if anybody has any grievance, he should apply
through the law.
“I appeal again to our youth, to everybody to please
give peace a chance and accept that the chief contestant himself has
accepted.”
