Buhari congratulates APC, Gov-elect Okpebholo on historic Edo win – Media Office
*Edo election another reason to miss President Buhari - Osas *Says, Buhari's character drew opposition governors to APC
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s governor-elect in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, following “his prized, historic electoral victory”.
Buhari, a three-time Nigerian ruler, said he was very hopeful that both leaders of the incoming administration and the party that lost would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of the state’s development.
“Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo on the historic electoral victory and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.
“I very much hope the winners and the losers will work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state.
“I commend law enforcement agencies for the efforts that they put in ensuring a peaceful election and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve their act with each election.
“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy,” the former President, signed by Malam Garba Shehu, dated September 22, 2024 and of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Sunday.
Another time reason to miss President Buhari – Osas
In his reaction to the election, Osas Ogbeide, as an respondent identified himself while speaking with Our Reporters on the street of Benin City Sunday night, said, “This election is yet another reason for us to miss President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Explaining, he said, “Remember that, in a solo election like this, President Buhari aside telling Nigerians in state of concerned to vote for candidates of their choice across political party would follow that up with security operatives, who had no order to carry out the interest of the President during the election.
“From the way security agencies got involved in the disruptions of collations, all the intimidations and suppression of voters that followed the election that the Edo State people came out massively to participate in on Saturday, it was clear, not only that the Bola Tinubu Presidency in office now has denied electorate their freedom of choice in matter of their next governor but also, it shows that there was standing and straight presidential order to the security agencies to back all the electoral evils that characterised the process,” Ogbeide said.
Asked to respond to Buhari congratulating the victorious candidate in Saturday’s election, he defended the former President.
“Buhari will congratulate anybody that INEC declares. That is taking side with the law. You cannot blame him for congratulating Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate, because doing so was based on the outcome but he (Buhari and we Nigerians) knows that it would not happen under him.
“If it were under Tinubu presidency Obaseki contested that 2020 election, he would not have won. Don’t forget that Nyesom Wike failed in his effort at that time because Buhari did not allow the militants he had mobilised and the likes of MC Olu Omo deployed from Lagos to Edo as thugs to help Tinubu, then a non-office holder using Oshiomhole at the time, destroy the second term seeking governor, Obaseki. We missed President Muhari, a correct Fulani man in power,” he said before taking his leave from point of interview.
Buhari’s character drew opposition governors to APC
According to him, the likes of Professor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State, Governor Dave Umahi, Mohammed Bello Matawalle and Chief Rochas Okorocha decamped from opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the ruling APC because of the good character they confessed they found in President Muhammadu Buhari.
The then President Buhari once presented the flag of APC to two of them, Professor Ayade, and Matawalle as he received them in audience at an occasion in the State House Abuja witnessed by then APC Chairman Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, on Monday 12th July 2021.
