Ganduje to Atiku, Obi: Wait Till 2031 to Realise Your Presidential Ambition

•Coalition urges former VP, Obi not to abandon Nigeria

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Chairman of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has called on the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart,  Mr. Peter Obi to wait till 2031 to realise their presidential ambition.

Ganduje, in a statement issued Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, said the Supreme Court judgement had laid to rest all claims by the opposition political parties that the votes at the presidential poll were manipulated in favour of President Tinubu.

The chairman urged Atiku and Obi to bury their hatchets and join hands with President Bola Tinubu to reposition the country.

He added that the Supreme Court verdict would now pave the way for Tinubu to concentrate on implementing the Renewed Hope mandate of the APC for the benefit of Nigerians.

Ganduje noted: “Nigeria belongs to all of us, it is our responsibility as patriots to pool our resources together to move the country forward. I congratulate both Atiku and Obi for their dogged fight in extending the frontiers of our democracy and law.

“This is democracy. Tinubu’s victory is another victory for democratic rule in the country. There is still room for both Obi and Atiku to actualise their presidential aspiration after the second term tenure of President Tinubu in 2031.”

Ganduje called on Nigerians irrespective of political leaning to rally round the President to ensure that he delivers more dividends of democracy and move the country on the path of sustainable progress.

Meanwhile, the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative has called on Atiku Aand Obi not to abandon Nigeria. 

Its National Coordinator, Okpokwu Ogenyi made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a unity rally in celebration of President Bola  Tinubu’s electoral victory at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

He said: “We specifically singled out the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, not to abandon Nigeria. 

“It is our opinion that they should stay back and contribute meaningfully to the project Nigeria. We believe that as citizens of Nigeria one must not become a president or vice president before he or she can make meaningful contributions to the development of our nation.”

Ogenyi noted that Atiku as a former Vice President and  Obi as a former governor should not hesitate to give appropriate advice devoid of politics and self aggradisement.

He added that they should continue to reign in their supporters to embrace peace.

The group noted, “For now, the struggle for political power has ended for the duo but that does not mean they do not have opportunity in future. 

“Therefore, before the said future comes, there is a need to cooperate with the incumbent and ensure that we all succeed together as a nation.”

Commenting on the Supreme court verdict that upheld President Tinubu’s victory, the coalition noted that it had been a long battle, ranging from consultations, the primaries, electioneering campaign, elections, election petition tribunal to the Supreme Court judgement. 

It said Tinubu was anointed by God to take Nigeria to the promised land. 

The coalition commended  the judiciary for delivering the most sound judgement ever in the history of election petition in Nigeria.