James Harrison, Abuja
•••SAYS ELECTION WOULD GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL IN NIGERIA’S HISTORY
•••NIGERIANS WERE AGAIN ROBBED BY OUR EADERS WHO WE TRUSTED
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has said that he won the Saturday, February 25th Presidential elections and he would prove it to Nigerians.
He said that the process of the election is flawed and he would go to court to challenge the ‘rascality’ as advised by Nigerians.
Obi spoke during his first press conference in Abuja on Wednesday after the election
He lamented the way the Saturday Presidential election was conducted 63 years after independence.
He wondered if the election of Saturday was what caused this country hundreds of billions of Naira.
He said that it would have been better to invest the money voted for INEC on something and announce results as they did without the conduct of election.
Obi insisted that a new Nigeria is possible and he would go ahead with his mission to offer the youths of Nigeria, the opportunity of that new Nigeria they yearn for.
He appealed to the youths of the country not to despair, and to be strong abs resolute in the pursuit of the desire for a new dawn.
He called out all members of the Obidient movement to go out en masse to cast their votes on Saturday.
He stressed that all legal and peaceful options would be deployed to reclaim the mandate of the people.
He promised to be part of the Saturday election.
He pointed out that the process is faulty and it is impossible to build peace on a faulty foundation.
He said that governance should be built in a foundation of peace, honesty, fairness and transparency.
He recalled that the INEC Chairman deviated from his guidelines for the election which was indeed faulty.
He lamented that while politicians are stealing billions of Naira, Nigerians graduates cannot afford to buy an oven to start a business.
He stressed that the Presidential election did not meet the minimum standard of freeness, fairness and credibility expected of such as an election,
The LP Candidate assured that he is committed to the journey to reclaim his victory in the court.
He said that while the people who have hijacked the process, are committed, the LP and the youths are more committed.
He said he feels the pain of young Nigerians and advised them to stay sick in the country assuring that they would overcome, and the day of victory would surely come.
Obi told the political class that for them to answer the term ‘excellency’ the process that brings people into power should be excellent.
He said that while he has maximum respect for the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, he would challenge the outcome of the faulty process in court.
He dismissed insinuations that there was coalition between the LP and the PDP.
“For a new Nigeria, and the trust in that new Nigeria, Datti and my good self, I thank them for the hard work. We have gratitude to Obidients. The youth who believe a new Nigeria is possible and I say to them a new Nigeria is possible and we will work for that new Nigeria that is possible.
Their resilience and hard work for a new Nigeria should not wane.
Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria. I know how they will be feeling now because of the way the elections have come and gone. The commitment and resilience of Nigerians even in the face of unwarranted attacks is a testimony that a new Nigeria is possible.
“I look at people like lady Jennifer who was stabbed but insisted on voting. And that gives me courage to believe that a new Nigeria is indeed possible and so many other Nigerians.
The election we just witnessed has been conducted and results announced as programmed. It is a clear perversion of electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised.
“This election did not meet the minimum standard expected of a free, transparent, credible and fair election. It will go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria.
“The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have again being robbed by our supposed leaders whom they trusted.
“However let me humbly appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law abiding and conduct themselves in the most responsible manner. Please be assured this is not the end, but the beginning of the journey for the birth of a new Nigeria.
Datti and I remain absolutely undaunted and deeply committed to the project of a new Nigeria that will be built on honesty, transparency,fairness, justice and equity.
All the above starts with a process . The process through which people come into office is far more fundamental, more important than what they do there after.
“It is my belief that I maintain so consistently that if you must answer his excellency the process through which you arrive to office must be excellent.
“We must now require that we do the right things in order to generate the required confidence and moral authority to lead…
“During my campaign process, we said that we will govern by the rule of law because we know what not doing that entails and that why we insisted that.
“Let me reiterate and assure you the good people of Nigeria that we will explore all legal and peaceful options to reclaim our mandate.
“We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians. Please do not despair.
“We have election coming up on the 11th I enjoin you to campaign and bring out people to come out and vote in the election.
“We still have so much massive support out there that we need for our sub national and state assemblies.
Please come out and be a part of the election. I assure you that I will be a part of it.
“I assure you that I am totally committed to a better future in this country and nothing will stop that.
“Our commitment is total. Be rest assured that your support will not be in vain and you will not find us wanting. We must build a better Nigeria where Nigerian youths will be happy and glad to call their own country.”